Lawsuit from Bilal Erdoğan after Kılıçdaroğlu's immunity ends: Remarks from 10 years ago cited

A lawsuit has been filed against former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, seeking up to 2 years in prison for defamation due to his remarks directed at TÜGVA High Advisory Board Member Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, the son of President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during a rally held in Amasya in 2014.

The indictment, prepared by the Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and accepted by the court, states that Bilal Erdoğan, through his lawyer Ahmet Özel, applied to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and filed a complaint against Kılıçdaroğlu—whose parliamentary immunity was lifted following the last election—alleging that he committed the crime of "defamation" during his speech at a rally held in the Taşova district of Amasya on January 18, 2014.

The indictment notes that a warrant was issued to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Instruction Bureau to take Kılıçdaroğlu's statement regarding the matter, and that a written defense was submitted by the defendant's lawyer, Celal Çelik, in response.

The indictment further reports that the file was referred to a mediator as the alleged crime is among those subject to reconciliation, but that the parties did not reach an agreement.

In this context, the indictment requests that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu be sentenced to between 3 months and 2 years in prison for the crime of "defamation."

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

Speaking in Taşova, Amasya in 2014, Kılıçdaroğlu had stated, “If one of my children were involved in such corruption, I would not keep them by my side for a second; I would disown them.”

Kılıçdaroğlu had also said the following at the rally:

“I would not want any father to disown his child. But I ask Tayyip Erdoğan, ‘What does your son’s foundation do?’ If you have committed corruption, you go like a man to the courthouse door, and if your conscience is clear, you account for it there. You are the ringleader. Whatever you said, your son did the same. What privilege does your son have over Mehmet Efendi in Taşova? Your son’s privilege is that he is the head of the bribery collection center.”

News Source: AA