Turkish author faces jail term for insulting president

Mağden said in her testimony that she only replied to questions from Diken reporter Tunca İlker Öğreten regarding the confiscation of copies of the 18th issue of the magazine in September 2015 and that she told Öğreten her opinions about the practice.

The indictment, however, stated that Mağden’s statements about Erdoğan “went far beyond criticism and clearly could be regarded as insults.” 

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has demanded up to four years in prison for Mağden following a criminal complaint that was filed by Erdoğan’s lawyer Ahmet Özel.

The first court hearing will reportedly be held in the Istanbul 2nd Court of First Instance in the case.

The office building of Nokta, a Turkish magazine popular for its satirical stories on politics and day-to-day developments, was raided by police in September 2015 over an allegation that the cover of its 18th issue showing a picture of Erdoğan taking selfie near a killed soldier’s coffin “insulted” the Turkish president.