July 2016 coup attempt victims sue dethroned Miss Turkey Itır Esen

Damla Güler – ISTANBUL

The victims of the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt have filed a complaint against the dethroned Miss Turkey 2017 Itır Esen, demanding the court to sentence Esen to pay compensation over “directing insults” at the victims.

A total of 33 victims sued Esen, who came to prominence after being decrowned hours after winning the Miss Turkey 2017 pageant over a tweet she wrote on the first year anniversary of the thwarted coup, widely believed to have been masterminded by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

“Itır Esen has made a disgusting and despicable insult to martyrdom and the shahada, which are among the greatest values of Islam, and the sacred blood that spilled on the ground on that path in her tweet,” lawyer Ateş Öcal said on behalf of the victims during a press release in front of Istanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse on Sept. 28, adding that the victims are demanding symbolic compensations worth 1 kuruş each, totaling 33 kuruş ($0.09).

Saying that “as Muslims, it’s our duty to be on the side of God,” Öcal noted “our aim is to teach Islam to the youth like Esen.”

“Our duty is to teach our youth like Itır Esen, who was left ignorant about Islam and the shahada, about Islam. That’s why we are demanding compensation worth 1 kuruş each because our aim is not to gain money. Punishment and anger are not our purposes. Our purpose is to teach,” he said.

In his application, Öcal noted that his clients felt deep sadness over Esen’s tweet and wanted her to receive a sentence over “making insults.”