Turkish high school student arrested over ‘insulting Atatürk’

Duvar English

A Turkish court on Sept. 20 ordered the arrest of a 17-year-old high school student over "making obscene gestures with a photograph of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk," the founding father of Turkey.

Istanbul Governor’s Office made a statement after the footage went viral on social media and said "In the footage shared on social media channels, it was seen that a person exhibited obscene behavior with a photograph of Atatürk. A.E.S (17), who carried out the action in question, was caught and detained, and a judicial and administrative process was initiated regarding the incident."

The student was charged with the offenses of “publicly humiliating a part of the public based on social class, religion, sect, gender, regional difference” and “publicly insulting the memory of Atatürk.” 

According to the Law on Offenses Committed Against Atatürk, “anyone who publicly insults or curses the memory of Atatürk” shall be sentenced to imprisonment from one to three years. If this offense is committed in public places or through the press, the penalty is increased by half.