DİSK Trade Union Confederation Chair Arzu Çerkezoğlu Acquitted

Photo: DİSK / Twitter

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Arzu Çerkezoğlu, the chair of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) has been acquitted of "provoking people into animosity and hatred" and "insulting the president" in a case over a speech she made.

Çerkezoğlu, her attorneys and DİSK members attended the fourth hearing of the case at Sapanca Penal Court of First Instance in the northwestern Kocaeli province, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

"As union administrators, we may criticize the policies of the government that we don't find right. My speeches are criticism, there is no insult. An insult that does not exist cannot be defended. I do not accept the charges and request my acquittal," she stated at the hearing.

The court acquitted Çerkezoğlu on the grounds that the elements of the charged offenses did not occur.

Sapanca Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had opened an investigation against Çerkezoğlu over a speech she made in Sapanca at an event titled "Where is Turkey heading to?" organized by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). The event took place in 2016, when Çerkezoğlu was the secretary-general of the DİSK.

The prosecutor's office had charged Çerkezoğlu with "defaming people or provoking people into animosity and hatred" and requested a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years. (DB/VK)