Five more people arrested for ‘swearing at Erdoğan’ in Turkey’s İzmir

İZMİR

A court in the western İzmir province on June 27 ordered the arrest of five people who allegedly swore at President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ahead of a rally of Muharrem İnce, the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) presidential candidate. 

The suspects were charged with insulting a state leader.

Prosecutors launched an investigation after video footages allegedly showing people shouting expletives against Erdoğan at a restaurant were shared on social media.

İnce held a massive rally in the city on June 21 as part of his election campaign.

Seven people had already been arrested on the same charges in İzmir, making the number of people remanded in the same case increase to 12.

Prosecutors had issued detention warrants for a total of 15 people in connection with the case.

Two of them were released on probation while one suspect was released by prosecutors.

İnce lost the presidential race to Erdoğan in the June 24 election. Erdoğan garnered 52.6 percent of the vote against İnce’s 30.6 percent, according to unofficial results.

In İzmir, which is seen as the stronghold of the CHP, Erdoğan secured 32.92 percent of the vote while İnce got 54 percent in the presidential poll.