Turkish fashion designer Barbaros Şansal released after two months in jail 

ISTANBUL

Turkish fashion designer Barbaros Şansal, who was arrested two months ago on charges of charges of “inciting hatred and hostility among the public,” was released late on March 1, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. 

The release comes after Şansal’s lawyer, Efkan Bolaç, appealed on Feb. 22 for him to be tried without arrest. 
The first hearing in the case is due to be held on March 16, and if found guilty Şansal faces from one to three years in jail.

While releasing Şansal before the trial, the court also gave him a ban on leaving the country. 

Şansal is charged with “inciting hatred among the public” in social media posts and video footage in which he “insulted” Turkey in the early hours of Jan. 1.

He was deported from Northern Cyprus and arrested in Turkey for the posts, but in its release decision the court cited “inconsistencies” in the indictment. 

The court noted that the indictment claimed that one of Şansal’s tweets was sent from Istanbul, despite the fact that he was in Cyprus at the time.

It also stated that the charges include “inciting hatred among the public,” but he was referred to court for arrest based on the charge of “insulting the Turkish nation,” which would create confusion in any trial.