Zafer Arapkirli to appear in court

Journalist Zafer Arapkirli will appear in court in Çağlayan today on charges of "insulting the President," following a social media post targeted by Cem Küçük, a figure close to the government.

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BirGün columnist and journalist Zafer Arapkirli is set to stand trial on charges of "insulting the President" due to a post on his social media account.

The investigation was launched after Cem Küçük, a columnist for Türkiye Gazetesi known for his proximity to the government, targeted a post Arapkirli made on the X platform on October 23, 2024. The indictment, prepared following ministerial authorization, requests a sentence for Arapkirli under Article 299/1-2 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

At the center of the case is a post Arapkirli made on his X account on October 23, 2024, which included the words "YOU ARE A VERY BAD SCREENWRITER... You were always like that anyway." Quoting this message, Cem Küçük accused Arapkirli of targeting the President and called on the prosecutor's office, stating, "Our police and judiciary must do what is necessary regarding this person."