Court jails Turkish journalist for 'threatening' Erdogan: rights group
A popular Turkish political journalist and commentator has been sentenced to four years in prison after "threathening" President Erdogan. It's the latest in a string of events which shows how freedom of the press is under pressure in Turkey.
Istanbul (AFP) - A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced a popular political journalist and commentator to four years in prison for "threatening" President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an NGO representing him said.
The court sentenced Fatih Altayli to four years and two months in prison, the MLSA rights group said on X.
He was arrested in June after discussing a poll showing 70 percent of the public oppose longtime leader Erdogan becoming president for life. In the video -- published on Altayli's YouTube channel, which has 1.7 million subscribers -- the journalist said the figure was "not particularly surprising", in response to a question about the poll.
Apart from fans of Erdogan's AKP party and some voters for its small nationalist ally, the MHP, "no one supports such an idea," he said, in remarks quoted by Turkish media.
"Look at the distant past: This is a nation that has strangled its sultans when it didn't like them or want them... There are many Ottoman sultans who were strangled, assassinated or allegedly committed suicide," he said.
Altayli was arrested on June 21, and remains behind bars.
Press freedom under attack
At his first hearing on October 3, he denied the charge against him, telling the court said he had merely offered "elements of historical context" without intending to threaten Erdogan, according to media outlets citing the official transcript.
Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the ruling and called for Altayli's release. "The heavy sentence imposed on Altayli over statements taken out of context, as well as the decision to keep him in detention, sends an intimidating, antidemocratic and unacceptable message" to journalists, RSF's Turkey representative Erol Onderoglu told AFP.
According to RSF, Turkey has arrested 20 journalists this year for carrying out their work, of whom three are still in custody, while another three are under house arrest awaiting trial.
Journalists and publishing executives are regularly targeted by arrests, with TV channels and other outlets hit with temporary suspensions, heavy fines or both. RSF places Turkey 159th out of 180 countries in its world press freedom rankings.
Erdogan, who served as prime minister between 2003 and 2014 before becoming president, is not allowed to run for a fourth term when his mandate expires in 2028. But the 71-year-old could attempt to maintain his grip on power by calling early elections or reforming Turkey's constitution.