A Silopi criminal court of first instance has sentenced former HDP deputy Sebahat Tuncel to one year in prison for slapping a police officer in the face during Nevruz celebrations in 2011.
The court also ordered Tuncel to pay TL 8,500 on charges of “assaulting and obstructing a public official.”
The incident took place during celebrations of the spring festival of Nevruz in the Silopi district of the southeastern province of Şırnak. Footage from the celebrations — which turned into demonstrations — showed Tuncel slapping chief inspector Murat Çetiner’s face and shouting insults at him.
Çetiner managed to maintain a respectful demeanor and keep his calm, but then filed a complaint against the deputy. Tuncel drew harsh criticism from politicians following the incident.
A Şırnak court has handed down a fine of TL 25,000 to then-Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) İstanbul deputy Sebahat Tuncel for slapping the police officer, but no criminal action was brought against her due to her parliamentary immunity.
Çetiner filed a criminal case against Tuncel after her the HDP administration failed to name her as a deputy candidate in the June 7 general election.