CHP's Tanal files criminal complaint against Donald Trump

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Mahmut Tanal has filed a criminal complaint against American President Donald Trump, based on the controversial and oddly-worded letter that Trump sent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan immediately prior to the launch of Turkey's Operation Peace Spring, according to news reports on Friday. 

Tanal filed a criminal complaint with the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's office on the basis that Trump committed crimes including 'insulting the president' and 'denigrating the Turkish nation and the Turkish republic'.” 

Trump's controversial letter was sent on October 9, aggressively warning Erdoğan that Turkey should not take military action against the YPG. Erdoğan reportedly promptly threw the letter in the trash and opted to go ahead with Turkey's Operation Peace spring earlier than scheduled, which is geared toward creating a safe zone in Northern Syria and forcing the Syrian Kurdish militant People's Protection Units (YPG) out of the area. Turkey considers the YGP to be the Syrian branch of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). 

Tanal pointed out that Trump's language in his letter was not in accordance with proper diplomatic courtesy, mentioning that Trump vowed to destroy the Turkish economy and told Erdoğan “don't be a tough guy” and “don't be a fool.” The language in the letter was strikingly unbefitting of a head of state, prompting many people to assume the letter was fake following its release.