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Turkish teen in Erdogan 'insult' case free for now

Timothy JonesDecember 26, 2014

A Turkish court has ordered the release from custody of a teenage boy arrested for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But he still faces up to four years in prison if convicted on the charges.

https://p.dw.com/p/1EAIC
: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) at Turkey's Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey on December 01, 2014. Kayhan Ozer / Anadolu Agency
Image: picture-alliance/Kayhan Ozer/Anadolu Agency

A court in the central Turkish city of Konya released the 16-year-old boy from police custody on Friday after dozens of lawyers petitioned for him to be freed, Turkish media said.

He was met by his parents as he left the courthouse in Konya, according to the CNN-Turk channel.

The teenager was arrested by police at his school on Wednesday for reportedly delivering a speech at a student protest in which he accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured above) and the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) of corruption.

Among other things, he is alleged to have said that Erdogan was widely seen as the "thieving owner of the illegal palace" - a reference both to a government corruption scandal and a massive palace inaugurated by the Turkish president in October.

His arrest comes in the wake of police raids this month on opposition media outlets that have fueled concern about freedom of speech in Turkey.

The boy could still face up to four years in prison if he is charged and convicted of insulting Erdogan.

Responding to an outcry against the arrest, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, an Erdogan ally, supported the original decision to take the boy into custody, saying, "Everyone must respect the office of president whoever he is."

tj/ksb (AFP, AP)