Turkish authorities have reportedly arrested and jailed a 16-year-old boy for desecrating a campaign poster featuring President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to media reports from various opposition-affiliated outlets, including Bir Gun, Cumhuriyet and Halk TV, the young man, who lives in the southeastern town of Mersin, allegedly added a Hitler-style mustache to a poster near his home, along with insults. Funny comments were also made. .
The arrest was made after the youth was identified through CCTV footage. After his apprehension, the authorities questioned him at his residence. He admitted to pulling the mustache and denied writing the derogatory remarks. Nevertheless, after being brought before the public prosecutor, he was accused of “insulting the president” and later sent to a nearby youth detention facility, as Halk TV reported.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently won another five-year term in presidential elections on May 28, extending his 20-year rule over Turkey. The country’s justice ministry has said that “insulting the president” is one of the most common crimes in Turkey, with 16,753 convictions last year.
It is worth noting that drawing attention to such cases highlights the limits of freedom of expression in Turkey, where criticizing or ridiculing public figures can have legal consequences. The incident with the young man adds to the ongoing debate about the state of civil liberties in the country and restrictions on dissenting voices.