Turkey: Erdogan to Sue French 'Le Point' Magazine For Insulting Him

World

October 25th, 9:50am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Reuters.

Turkey's state-run news agency says lawyers for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have filed a criminal complaint against French magazine Le Point journalists for allegedly insulting him. The criminal complaint was filed against editor-in-chief Etienne Gernelle and journalist Romain Gubert at a Turkish court, Anadolu Agency said Friday. In its cover page headline, Le Point called Erdogan "The Eradicator" in relation to Turkey's military offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria. The front page also read: "ethnic cleansing, Erdogan's method." Insulting the president is a crime in Turkey, the Associated Press reported. Erdogan has filed thousands of complaints against journalists, politicians, students and others for comments deemed to be insults. In 2016, Erdogan sued a German comedian over a satirical poem, leading to diplomatic tensions with Germany and debate on freedom of speech.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1961096/turkey-erdogan-sue-french-le-point-magazine-insulting-him