17.02.2026 23:02
The Ankara Regional Court of Appeals overturned the decision ordering former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu to pay compensation to Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş. The court concluded that Soylu's statements were "not insults, but rather of a political polemic and criticism nature."
The Ankara Regional Court of Appeals overturned the local court's decision in the moral compensation case between Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş and former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu.
YAVAŞ WILL RETURN THE MONEY HE RECEIVED
Thus, the court annulled the compensation decision of 20,000 TL awarded in favor of Yavaş and ruled for the dismissal of the case. The court determined that Süleyman Soylu's statements towards Mansur Yavaş were lawful, and the way was opened for the return of the amount previously paid.
"NOT INSULT, BUT POLITICAL POLEMIC AND CRITICISM"
In the appellate decision, it was emphasized that the parties are politicians. The court stated that harsh political criticisms fall within the scope of freedom of expression in democratic societies, concluding that Soylu's statements were not insults but rather political polemic and criticism. Therefore, it was expressed that the conditions for moral compensation were not met.
49 THOUSAND TL HAD BEEN PAID
The case was initiated based on the political criticisms made by Süleyman Soylu towards Mansur Yavaş during a program broadcast on a private television channel on the night of April 30, 2023. Yavaş claimed that these statements targeted his personal rights and filed a moral compensation lawsuit. The first-instance court ruled that Soylu should pay 20,000 TL in moral compensation, and the decision was enforced, resulting in the collection of approximately 49,000 TL, including interest and litigation costs.