Top Turkish appeals court previously ruled 'I'll cut your tongue' a 'threat'

After President Recep Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has targeted iconic pop singer Sezen Aksu over one of her songs, it has come to light that Turkey's Court of Cassation had in fact in 2018 ruled that the expression "I will cut your tongue" constitutes a threat.

Tuesday January 25 2022 10:01 am

Duvar English

Turkey's Court of Cassation, the country's highest court of appeals, overturned an acquittal made by an Istanbul court regarding a quarrel that took place in the city’s district of Küçükçekmece, in which one of the parties told the other “I will cut your tongue.”

In the wake of the incident, the victim had filed a lawsuit.

In a ruling on Nov. 29, 2018, the Court of Cassation said that “the act of threatening is an act that disturbs one’s peace of mind, freedom of consciousness and will,” according to reporting by Kısa Dalga.

“It is unnecessary to investigate whether the victim is fearful or not. A threat is considered a crime insofar as an intent is conveyed and is committed consciously and wittingly,” it added.

Last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan targeted iconic singer Sezen Aksu over one of her songs, saying it was “his duty to cut those tongues that defame Adam and Eve.”

In her song “It is a wonderful thing to live”, Sezen Aksu sings “Hello, say hello to those ignorant Eve and Adam,” which sparked accusations of breaching “moral values.”

Following the president’s statement, Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) reportedly told television and radio channels throughout the country to refrain from playing the song.

No lawsuit was filed against President Erdoğan over his remarks.

Topics Turkey Erdoğan Sezen Aksu Court of Cassation