He was arrested for insulting President Erdoğan: Fatih Altaylı's reaction to the indictment! 'The interesting thing is...'

Journalist Fatih Altaylı was arrested on charges of "threatening the President" due to remarks he made during a YouTube broadcast. The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office alleges that Altaylı committed the crime of "threatening the President by mentioning that a physical attack would be carried out."

In the indictment, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is listed as the "complainant." It was requested that Altaylı be tried in the High Criminal Court with a demand for at least 5 years in prison, citing a "physical attack" threat, rather than being tried in the Criminal Court of First Instance with a maximum sentence of 2 years for the alleged offense. This situation drew attention as a demand far exceeding the penalty limits stipulated in Article 106 of the Turkish Penal Code.

MESSAGE FROM ALTAYLI FROM PRISON: "I WAS ARRESTED FOR A CRIME THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE LAW"

Sending a message from the Marmara Prison where he is being held, Altaylı spoke about the indictment for the first time. Stating that they had been waiting for the indictment to be prepared for 25 days due to his 2.5-minute speech, Altaylı noted the following:

"Finally, the indictment has been prepared and a case is being opened with a demand for at least 5 years in prison. Am I surprised? No. Those who arrested me in a fabricated manner for a made-up crime that does not exist in the law were of course going to prepare such an indictment. But I know that in trials held in different courts with similar allegations and based on the same articles of law, the judiciary has made very appropriate decisions."

"The interesting thing is that the indictment was distributed to the press before my lawyers. We are being tried not by law, but by perception. But I believe in justice. Justice will prevail. I know this. Justice will be served in one way or another. No one should worry."

WHAT HAPPENED?

Fatih Altaylı had used expressions criticizing the government in a YouTube program broadcast in recent weeks. Following this speech, an investigation was launched against him, and shortly after, he was arrested on charges of "threatening the President." 25 days after his arrest, the indictment against him was completed and submitted to the Istanbul High Criminal Court.