The Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions (DİSK) Secretary-General Arzu Çerkezoğlu was briefly detained early on Friday on suspicion of “insulting” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Çerkezoğlu posted a tweet about the incident. “A detention order was issued for me on suspicion of insulting the president. I am in custody now. We will testify in front of the prosecutor shortly after,” Çerkezoğlu said.
She was released after giving testimony.
Kani Beko, head of the union, also posted a tweet, informing people about Çerkezoğlu’s detention.
Cases of “insulting” Erdoğan are based on Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which states that anyone convicted of insulting the president should serve a prison term of between one and four years.
More than 1,800 cases have been started against people accused of insulting Erdoğan since he came to office in 2014, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ announced. Those who have gone on trial include celebrities, journalists, activists and even schoolchildren.
