22.04.2025 15:40
The artist İlyas Salman was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison for charges of insulting the President due to statements he made in an interview with BirGün newspaper three years ago. Salman's sentence was converted to a judicial fine of 7,000 lira.
The hearing held at the 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance in Istanbul was attended by İlyas Salman’s lawyer and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s lawyer. The prosecutor, reiterating the opinion he presented in the previous hearing, requested that Salman be punished for the crime he is accused of. Erdoğan's lawyer also stated that they agreed with the opinion and requested Salman’s punishment.
CONVERTED TO A FINE
İlyas Salman’s lawyer, Selen Sınmaz, requested the dismissal of the case by recalling the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision on Vedat Şorli. Sınmaz stated, "The ECHR found it unlawful for the crime of 'insult' to be regulated in two different places in the Turkish Penal Code, Articles 125 and 299, and indicated that the Article 299 under which my client is being prosecuted is discriminatory against other citizens, and has stated that you should correct your domestic law. First of all, we request the dismissal of the case or the immediate acquittal of my client," she said. Sınmaz added, "My client is an artist who has become public property. There is no intent to insult; he expressed his thoughts based on freedom of expression." The court found that the crime of "insulting the President" was committed and initially sentenced Salman to 1 year and 2 months in prison. This sentence was then reduced by 1/6 in favor of Salman to 11 months and 20 days in prison, and then converted to a judicial fine of 7,000 lira.