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Turkish academic arrested for ‘insulting’ Erdoğan on social media

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Turkish academic and journalist Çiğdem Bayraktar Ör, who was detained Wednesday over a social media post on accusations of “insulting the president” and “insulting a public official,” was arrested by an İstanbul court on Friday, the Velev news website reported.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into Ör due to her post, leading to her detention by police for questioning.

Officials have not disclosed details of the post in question, but shortly before her detention, Ör had posted a lengthy tweet on X in which she criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its leaders, accusing them of corruption, incompetence and suppression.

She described President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as unqualified for office and labeled his government as unjust and negligent. She condemned ministers for failing to take responsibility for disasters, security issues and economic mismanagement, while also denouncing politicians, media figures and bureaucrats who support the government. Ör vowed that critics would not be silenced and warned that authoritarian rule would eventually end.

Turkey has frequently used its defamation laws to prosecute journalists, academics and opposition figures, drawing concern from rights groups over restrictions on free speech.

In 2023, 6,879 people faced charges for allegedly insulting President Erdoğan or his Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, according to Justice Ministry data reported by the Stockholm Center for Freedom. Of these, 1,602 were convicted, 1,982 received suspended sentences and 1,774 were acquitted.

The prosecutions, conducted under the controversial Articles 299 and 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, have drawn criticism from rights groups who argue that these laws are used to stifle dissent and restrict freedom of expression.

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