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Columnist faces 2 years over libelous remarks
In a column that appeared on Oct. 24, 2009, Turgut wrote that he would like to kidnap and make her his sex slave. Rojin later sued Turgut for defamation in his column, titled “I regret not being a PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] terrorist.” She claimed that he used his column to attack her ethnicity and gender. Turgut later apologized on a TV program and in his column, stating that he did not mean to hurt anyone. Turgut said he was sorry for unintentionally offending Rojin, adding that he tries to expose wrongdoings by writing absurd and exaggerated columns.
A hearing was held at the Bakırköy Second Penal Court of First Instance on Wednesday. Rojin was present at the hearing, while Turgut was represented by his lawyer.
The public prosecutor said Turgut used libelous expressions targeting Rojin’s honor and dignity. The prosecutor demanded three months to two years, four months in prison for Turgut for defamation through the media, also noting that he should not be charged with sexual harassment.
Rojin’s lawyer noted that Turgut wrote the column relating to the democratic initiative, also dubbed the Kurdish initiative, and said: “My client is not a side in the initiative. Therefore, she was offended due to the column. We demand a penalty for the suspect.”
Rojin, on the other hand, said she was greatly bothered as an artist and a woman due to the column, adding that she was disturbed because it mentioned her as a sex slave and a member of a terrorist organization.
Turgut’s lawyer said his client was not guilty of the charges and demanded additional time to prepare a defense. The hearing has been postponed to accommodate the request.
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