14.04.2025 22:50
In the case where the family of Berkin Elvan, who was hit in the head by a gas canister during the Gezi Park events and later died in the hospital where he was being treated, was accused of 'insulting the President,' a verdict has been reached. The court sentenced father Sami Elvan to 1 year and 2 months in prison, and mother Gülsüm Elvan to 11 months and 20 days in prison, deciding to postpone the announcement of the verdict against them.
The case of Gülsüm Elvan, the mother of Berkin Elvan, who was injured by a gas canister during the Gezi Park events and later died in the hospital where he was treated, and Sami Elvan, his father, has been concluded. They were tried for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in statements made on different dates.
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THEY MADE STATEMENTS CONTAINING INSULTS NOT COVERED BY FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
In a recent hearing at the Istanbul 43rd Criminal Court of First Instance, the defendants Gülsüm Elvan and Sami Elvan, along with their lawyers, were present. The public prosecutor, who presented the opinion on the merits of the case, stated that the defendants Sami Elvan and Gülsüm Elvan used words such as 'terrorist' and 'murderer' in their statements made at Çağlayan Courthouse square on different dates, targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and that these statements contained insults not covered by freedom of expression.
REQUEST FOR 8 YEARS 2 MONTHS FOR FATHER, 4 YEARS 8 MONTHS FOR MOTHER
In the opinion presented, it was requested that the defendant Sami Elvan be sentenced to 1 year and 5 months to 8 years and 2 months for the crime of 'openly insulting the President' in a repeated manner, and that the defendant Gülsüm Elvan be sentenced to 1 year and 2 months to 4 years and 8 months for the same crime.
"I DID NOT INSULT ANYONE"
In her defense, the defendant Gülsüm Elvan stated that she did not accept the opinion, saying, "I do not see it as an insult; it was my cry and longing for my child. If I were to put my rebellion into writing, the pen would not write, and if I were to tell it to a stone, the stone would crack. I request a decision to be made with conscience; I did not insult anyone." When asked for their final words, the defendants requested their acquittal from the court.
1 YEAR 2 MONTHS FOR FATHER, 11 MONTHS 20 DAYS FOR MOTHER
The court, announcing its decision, sentenced the defendant Gülsüm Elvan to 11 months and 20 days in prison for 'openly insulting the President,' and the defendant Sami Elvan to 1 year and 2 months in prison for the repeated crime of 'openly insulting the President.' It was also decided to suspend the announcement of the verdict for the defendants.