Speaking is forbidden! 16-year-old child detained for allegedly insulting Erdoğan

On Sunday, May 12, a 16-year-old girl was held in custody for one day after being accused of swearing as the motorcade of President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan passed by.

According to a report by İsmail Arı from Birgün, the girl was detained on the instructions of a Presidential bodyguard.

In her statement, the child, who was kept in custody for one day, said, “I had survived an accident 6 months ago. On the day of the incident, while I was waiting at a pedestrian crossing, I got scared and reacted to a vehicle coming at high speed. I did not know that any state official, including the President, would be there. It is out of the question for me to insult any state official, including the President of the Republic of Turkey. I am a high school student and have never been involved in a crime before. Due to the trauma I experienced previously, my reaction was misunderstood and I did not swear. I only reacted out of fear. When the motorcade came after the vehicle that passed by at high speed and an official there intervened, I realized it was the President's motorcade. I did not act with the intent to commit a crime.”

JUDICIAL CONTROL DECISION

The Istanbul 1st Criminal Court of Peace released the 16-year-old child under judicial control, with the condition of signing in once a week and a travel ban prohibiting her from leaving the country.

On the other hand, investigations were opened against 972 children last year under articles 299-301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which include insulting the President.

News Source: 12punto