Verdict reached for Dilruba Kayserilioğlu: She will not go to prison

Dilruba Kayserilioğlu, who was arrested in İzmir due to her remarks in a street interview and later released, appeared before the judge at the 35th Criminal Court of First Instance.

The indictment prepared for Kayserilioğlu, who remained in custody for 18 days for the crimes of "publicly inciting hatred and hostility and insulting" as regulated in Article 216/1-2 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), also included that the sentences to be given could be increased by up to half if the crimes were committed through the press and media, in accordance with Article 218 of the TCK.

In the court session that began with the reading of the indictment, the judge asked, "Did you make the statements I read?"

Kayserilioğlu said, "I made personal criticisms; I did not mean any party or person. I made these criticisms within the scope of freedom of thought."

'WHO DID YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAID EVERYONE IS AN IDIOT?'

According to the report by Ece İçmez from Cumhuriyet, when the judge asked, "Who did you mean when you said everyone is an idiot?", Kayserilioğlu replied, "The expressions 'brain-sucked idiots' that appeared in my statement are phrases supporting an idea and those who support that idea."

After the street interview given by Dilruba Kayserilioğlu was watched, the judge said, "It was observed and watched that the defendant said all the words written in the text of the indictment completely, following the question about the Instagram ban from start to finish."

Lawyer Hüseyin Yıldız stated, "She made a statement in a street interview, it was subsequently shared by trolls, and she was detained and arrested on August 12 following the statement by the head of RTÜK. With the accumulation of the Istanbul Convention, stray animals, and the economic crisis, my client exercised her constitutional right to freedom of expression. According to the statement in the 216/1 clause of the indictment, she did not mean a social class or group. Furthermore, for 216/1, public safety must be in clear danger, and my client does not possess such power. My client's actions are called a crime; who was harmed by this crime? Moreover, it does not constitute a danger and does not contain a call for hatred and violence. She made the statement within the scope of freedom of expression," he said.

Lawyer Yıldız said, "We request an acquittal and the lifting of the international travel ban."

In her defense, Kayserilioğlu said, "I did not say these words with the intention of inciting hatred and enmity. I want to be acquitted. The words I said were taken to a different place; I have regrets in this regard."

Lawyer Yıldız said, "We request an acquittal and the lifting of the international travel ban."

In her defense, Kayserilioğlu said, "I did not say these words with the intention of inciting hatred and enmity. I want to be acquitted. The words I said were taken to a different place; I have regrets in this regard."

SHE WILL NOT GO TO PRISON

The judge acquitted her of the charge of "publicly inciting hatred and hostility and insulting," but sentenced her to 7 months and 15 days for the crime of "publicly insulting a segment of the public based on social class, race, religion, sect, gender, or regional differences." The announcement of the verdict was deferred. Kayserilioğlu will not go to prison.

'WE WILL GO TO A HIGHER COURT'

After the prison sentence, Kayserilioğlu stated, "My lawyers and I will go to a higher court regarding the decision. I believe I am innocent; I have never doubted this for a moment. My lawyers will also make the necessary statements. I expressed my thoughts within the scope of freedom of expression. I never thought I was guilty. We will continue to seek what is necessary before the law."

Kayserilioğlu's lawyer, Hüseyin Yılmaz, said, "We believe that our client is innocent and that the expression of an opinion cannot be punished. We will exhaust domestic legal remedies in this struggle. Subsequently, we will take it all the way to the ECHR. Another investigation is still ongoing," he said.