MEDIA MONITORING DATABASE
Faruk Arhan is on trial for “insulting the President of the Republic”
RELATED PERSON OR INSTITUTION
Faruk Arhan
CITY
İstanbul
YEAR OF INTERFERENCE
2018
LAST UPDATED
26/02/2020
TYPE OF STATEMENT
Political
MEDIUM
Internet
Social Media Account
THE TITLE OF WHOSE RIGHT IS INTERFERED
Journalist
RIGHTS GUARANTEED UNDER THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Right to Impart Information and Ideas
TYPE OF INTERFERENCE
Judicial Interference
Criminal Courts
Decision of acquittal
THE LEGAL GROUNDS FOR INTERFERENCE
Turkish Penal Code
Art. 299

The Istanbul Anatolian 60th Criminal Court of First Instance acquitted journalist Faruk Arhan of the charge of allegedly “insulting the President of Republic” in June 2018. He has been standing trial on the grounds that has he reacted against the violations of human rights in the southeastern part of Turkey. He has been tried for 4 years and 8 months of imprisonment.

Upon the appeal to the decision, İstanbul Regional Court of Justice 3rd Penal Chamber reversed the decision of acquittal and sentenced Arhan to 1 year and 2 months and 17 days in prison for “insulting the President” over a tweet where he used the word “belly dancer” (dansöz). The pronouncement of the verdict is deferred.