Indictment Accuses Pro-Gov't Journalists Of Insult Against Akşener

An indictment has been prepared against journalists Cemil Barlas and Latif Erdoğan, accusing them of insulting Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) İstanbul deputy Meral Akşener in a TV show in May.

A Haber commentators Barlas and Erdoğan, in a controversial program aired by the pro-government TV station in May, discussed Akşener's recent appearance on a program broadcast on Samanyolu TV in which she talked about her party's election manifesto ahead of June's general election. Erdoğan claimed that she had been blackmailed with an inappropriate video recording in order to appear on Samanyolu TV. who have claimed that “ was recorded in a video with private content."

During the A Haber program, Erdoğan claimed that the Gülen movement, inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, obtained the alleged inappropriate video to blackmail the politician.

Commentator Erdoğan, an ex-follower of the Hizmet movement, also known as the Gülen movement, alleged that Akşener's anti-government views expressed during a program broadcast on Samanyolu TV -- a private popular TV station inspired by the Gülen movement -- were due to her being blackmailed by the movement with a “tape.” Erdoğan claimed this was indeed the case, without offering any evidence to back up his allegation. However, Erdoğan's allegations have been widely denounced by people including those from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

Akşener had filed a criminal complaint against Erdoğan and Barlas with charges of libel, blackmail and insult. (Cihan/Today's Zaman)