An İzmir court has decided that Dilruba K., who was arrested after publicly criticising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a street interview, will remain in custody. Although the court released her under judicial supervision for the charge of ‘insulting the president’, she continues to be detained on the more severe charge of ‘inciting hatred and enmity among the public’.
In her street interview, Dilruba K. made strong statements against President Erdoğan, saying, “In the 21st century, handing the Republic of Turkey to one man means he treats it like his father’s farm, like his barn.” She further criticised his actions: “Without any justification, he shuts down Instagram overnight, and that’s unacceptable.”
She also condemned Erdoğan’s decisions, stating, “One night, he passes a law to kill animals in God’s name. Another night, the Istanbul Convention disappears. Another night, Instagram is shut down. We know the country has been handed to him, but it’s not his father’s farm.” She characterised these actions as a ‘coup’, including the restriction of social media and other controversial decisions.
Dilruba K. was arrested in İzmir on 12 August after criticising President Erdoğan’s decision to block Instagram and declaring national mourning for Hamas leader İsmail Haniyeh. Initially charged with ‘insulting the president’ and ‘publicly inciting hatred and enmity’, the court released her on the former charge but upheld her detention on the latter. She remains in İzmir Aliağa Women’s Closed Prison.
