Six detained over drawing on billboard found to be 'degrading Turkish flag'

Six people face charges of "degrading the Turkish flag" over their involvement in drawing a white crescent and star on an advertisement billboard. The drawing attempts to show as if the man in the original drawing has committed suicide.

Duvar English

Six people have been detained over their involvement in drawing a white crescent and star on an advertisement billboard in Istanbul's Kabataş neighborhood on Feb. 19.

They are accused of “degrading the Turkish flag.” According to Article 300 of Turkish Penal Code, “any person who publicly degrades the Turkish flag by tearing, burning it or similar action shall be sentenced to a penalty of imprisonment for a term of one to three years.”

Of the six people who have been referred to the prosecutor's office, five of them have been released, whereas the suspect named Ömürcan İ. has been referred to the court with a demand of his arrest, OdaTV reported.

Prosecutors have also launched a separate investigation against Ömürcan İ. over charges of “insulting the President” on social media.