Turkish university student detained over retweeting Erdoğan ‘insult’

ISTANBUL

The sociology student at Abant İzzet Baysal University in the western province of Bolu, identified as S.E., was detained in her dormitory early June 15.

A university student in western Turkey has been detained for retweeting a phrase “insulting” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Twitter.

The sociology student at Abant İzzet Baysal University in the western province of Bolu, identified as S.E., was detained in her dormitory early June 15, Doğan News Agency reported. Facing charges of insulting the president with a retweet, S.E. was taken by police to the Bolu Security Directorate. 

After taking her testimony and confirming that she had deleted the retweet, the prosecutor released the student, pending trial.

Erdoğan has filed criminal complaints citing “insults” against scores of people in Turkey since he was elected to office in August 2014. Some of the suspects, who may face up to 4.5 years in prison, have included journalists, cartoonists, students and even a former Miss Turkey.

A special report released March 27 by the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) listed the increasing number of defamation suits as one of the factors threatening free speech in Turkey.