A muhtar (neighborhood head) in the western province of İzmir has been handed down a jail sentence of three years, nine months on charges of insulting Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, on social media, the Diken news website reported on Wednesday.
A criminal case was launched against the muhtar, Murat Gökyer, in the Çaldıran neighborhood of Buca due to a social media message he posted in February.
The muhtar’s trial was held at the İzmir 38th Penal Court of First Instance, where he was given the lengthy jail sentence on charges of publicly insulting the memory of Atatürk.
Law 5816, titled “The Law Concerning Crimes Committed Against Atatürk,” protects “the memory of Atatürk” from insult by any Turkish citizen. An offense against the memory of Atatürk is punishable by up to three years in prison.