Journalist Levent Gültekin was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison in a case filed on charges of 'insulting the president' due to his remarks during a program broadcast on Halk TV on September 27, 2022.
According to Eylem Sonbahar from MLSA, the lawyer for AKP President Erdoğan did not attend the hearing held at the Bakırköy 44th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Beginning his defense by stating that the primary responsibility of journalists is to inform and warn the public about what is happening in the country, Gültekin said, "Just as your duty is to dispense justice, we have a responsibility to provide criticism. I criticized the speech made by the President following a terrorist attack in Mersin in harsh terms. I did not insult him, and I do not believe I committed a crime. I request my acquittal."
Presenting his opinion on the merits, the prosecutor stated that in his speech on the program, Gültekin, "although appearing to criticize the President's political understanding, fulfilled the condition of targeting by naming him," and that the phrase "elementary school child mental illness" constituted the crime of insult according to the ruling of the 4th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation. In the opinion on the merits, which stated that "criticism could be made without using these words," it was requested that journalist Levent Gültekin be punished for the alleged crime.
"WELL, SO BE IT"
The court decided to sentence journalist Levent Gültekin to 11 months and 20 days in prison for the charge of "insulting the president." The announcement of the verdict was deferred.
Gültekin shared the news of his sentence on social media with the following words:
"In the case heard today, I received an 11-month and 20-day sentence for insulting the President. Well, so be it."
Bugün görülen davada Cumhurbaşkanına hakaretten 11 ay 20 gün ceza aldım. Sağlık olsun bakalım.
— Levent Gültekin (@acikcenk) March 19, 2024
News Source: 12punto
