The Simav Criminal Court of First Instance in the province of Kütayha (western Turkey) handed down a prison sentence of eleven months and 20 days to journalist Mustafa Arıgümüş. The chief editor and columnist of the Simav'ın Sesi newspaper was charged with insulting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in an anecdote the journalist had published.

Journalist Melih Kaşkar, editor-in-chief of the Milas Önder local daily (south-west Turkey), currently stands trial by reason of an anecdote about Prime Minister Erdoğan and President Abdullah Gül. Kaşkar is facing prison sentence.

The 2^nd Criminal Court of First Instance in Adana (south-eastern Turkey) convicted Sevda Turaçlar from the Ekspres newspaper of the same offence in a single session of the trial. The IT operator was convicted of alleged insult of President Gül in a published anecdote. The sentence was suspended. It will be enforced only if Turaçlar would commit the same offence within the coming five years.

Arıgümüş: No intention of insulting the Prime Minister

Arıgümüş's trial was opened on 29 December 2009. The journalist presented his defence in the hearing on 12 April. Apparently, Arıgümüş found the anecdote in the internet and published it in his column in the local daily on 28 December 2009. He argued that the anecdote had been published on several websites before and stated, "I had no intention at all of insulting Prime Minister Erdoğan".

Public Prosecutor Ali Toksöz said in his final plead that the column written by Arıgümüş was aimed at criticizing Prime Minister Erdoğan's performance. Prosecutor Toksöz claimed, "He exceeded the right to criticism in the press, the insult offended the Prime Minister's honour and dignity".

Prosecutor: Not the writing but the anecdote is offensive

Toksöz demanded punishment for Arıgümüş under charges of "insulting a public official via the media for fulfilling his duty".

The judge charged Arıgümüş with "public insult of a public official" and suspended the prison sentence of eleven months and 20 days. The journalist is going to be on probation for five years. (EÖ/VK)