Turkish author faces jail term for insulting president

Nokta Magazine author Perihan Ma?den faces up to four years in prison for allegedly insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an in statements on a police raid on the magazine in late 2015 that was published in Turkish news portal Diken.

Ma?den said in her testimony that she only replied to questions from Diken reporter Tunca ?lker Ö?reten regarding the confiscation of copies of the 18th issue of the magazine in September 2015 and that she told Ö?reten her opinions about the practice.

The indictment, however, stated that Ma?den's statements about Erdo?an "went far beyond criticism and clearly could be regarded as insults." 

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has demanded up to four years in prison for Ma?den following a criminal complaint that was filed by Erdo?an's lawyer Ahmet Özel.

The first court hearing will reportedly be held in the Istanbul 2nd Court of First Instance in the case.

The office building of Nokta, a Turkish magazine popular for its satirical stories on politics and day-to-day developments, was raided by police in September 2015 over an allegation that the cover of its 18th issue showing a picture of Erdo?an taking selfie near a killed soldier's coffin "insulted" the Turkish president.
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