A Turkish woman who was arrested in İstanbul last week after she criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a street interview has been released from pretrial detention, an opposition politician announced.
The 76-year-old woman, identified as Nermin K., was arrested on January 28 as part of an investigation launched into her by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on charges of insulting the president and his family following comments she made during an on-camera interview widely circulated on social media.
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) İstanbul provincial chairman Özgür Çelik announced on X on Tuesday that Nermin K., who was being held at Bakırköy Women’s Prison, has been released after spending eight days behind bars.
Çelik said his party closely followed the judicial proceedings against the woman and provided her with legal support.
He vowed to eliminate the “oppressive system” in the country when the next elections take place, hoping to win over President Erdoğan and his party.
In the interview broadcast on the Sokak Kedisi (Street Cat) YouTube channel, Nermin K. described Erdoğan as someone “who came to destroy our country” and accused him of enriching his family at the expense of citizens.
“Who is Tayyip? He’s just a primary school graduate who obtained middle school and university diplomas through connections,” she said. “His entire family got rich. He came to power to ruin our country. Everyone is struggling. May God punish him.”
Nermin K. denied the charges and said she was exercising her freedom of speech.
It is not yet known if the investigation into Nermin K. will proceed, but in most cases of charges of insulting the president, prosecutors file an indictment.
The arrest of Nermin K. attracted criticism from rights activists, opposition parties and some journalists who accused the government of using legal mechanisms to punish opponents and intimidate people who criticize Erdoğan and his government.
In Turkey, thousands of people are investigated, prosecuted or convicted on charges of insulting the president on the basis of the controversial Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). The crime carries up to four years in prison, a sentence that can be increased if the act was committed using mass media.