Samet Sarı, a university student and member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) youth branch, was arrested on Monday on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The İstanbul 5th Penal Court of Peace was not convinced by Sarı’s testimony that the Twitter account which is subject to insult charges does not belong to him.
Marmara University student Sarı was arrested for posting messages on social media that link Erdoğan to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and hence insult the president and his office.
A detention warrant was issued for Sarı on Feb. 16. His lawyer, Efkan Bolaç, objected to the warrant, but his objection was denied and his detention resulted in today’s arrest.
Scores of people are detained, arrested or under investigation on allegations of insulting Erdoğan in Turkey.