Turkish Supreme Prosecution recommends acquittal for student in Erdoğan insult case

The Turkish Supreme Prosecution Service has issued an opinion recommending acquittal for Arda Karademir, a 22-year-old Galatasaray University student. Karademir was previously sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison, with the verdict suspended, for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a social media post following the February 6 earthquakes.

While a local court and an appeals court had previously ruled that Karademir’s use of the word “tyrant” exceeded the limits of criticism and constituted an insult, the Supreme Prosecution Service has taken a different stance. In its opinion submitted to the 4th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, the prosecution stated that the remarks did not damage the President’s honor, dignity, or respectability, but instead constituted “heavy political criticism.” The prosecution argued that the elements of the crime of insult were not met and requested that the previous decision be overturned.