Indictment seeks up to two years in jail for CHP head Kılıçdaroğlu

ISTANBUL

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An indictment prepared by a local chief public prosecutor’s office in Istanbul has demanded up to two years in prison for main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on charges of “overtly insulting” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son in remarks made two years ago. 

The indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office demanded a prison term for Kılıçdaroğlu ranging from four months to two years and eight months on charges of “overtly insulting” Erdoğan’s son Bilal Erdoğan in the press on Aug. 5, 2014, while he was speaking to reporters at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport.

At the same time, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office moved to drop a suit against Kılıçdaroğlu on charges of “insulting public officials” after Recep Tayyip Erdoğan withdrew a complaint against the CHP leader.
The CHP leader’s lawyers demanded that the case regarding Bilal Erdoğan also be dropped, arguing that Kılıçdaroğlu’s criticisms were correct and suitable and should be considered within the context of freedom of expression.

The indictment was sent to the Bakırköy 50th Criminal Court of First Instance for an evaluation process that is expected to be completed within 15 days.

Meanwhile, Kılıçdaroğlu slammed the indictment during his party’s parliamentary group meeting on Oct. 11.
“A lawsuit against me has been opened with [a demand of] two years and eight months. If you do not prepare a 2,800-year indictment you are not the man. Who opened it? Bilal the son. I know what you are,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Following the July 15 failed coup attempt, Erdoğan decided to withdraw all court cases he previously opened against the chairs of opposition parties, with the exception of the Peoples’ Democracy Party (HDP), in a sign of putative solidarity.