Turkish professor to stand trial for insulting Erdoğan

ANKARA – The Associated Press

A philosophy professor says he will stand trial next week on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for suggesting in an article that the Turkish leader should go on trial over a range of claims, including alleged corruption and the violation of the constitution.
      
Professor Örsan K. Öymen said on Jan. 27 he faces up to four years in prison for the article published in the opposition Aydınlık newspaper in April. The trial is set for Feb. 4.
      
Hundreds of people - including celebrities, journalists and high-school students - are being prosecuted under a previously seldom-used law that bars insults to the president. Free speech advocates say Erdoğan is aggressively using the law to muffle dissent.
      
Öymen denies insulting Erdoğan, saying the president is "unable to distinguish strong criticism from an insult."