“Führer” defence in defamation of the “Chief” trial

The first hearing of the defamation of the president trial brought against Academic Cenk Yiğiter, who was expelled from Ankara University under a decree with the force of law, for saying on his social media account, “With talk of chief, Popeye (“Temel Chief” in Turkish) used to come to my mind. Now a slimy character does.”

 The hearing held at Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 20 was attended by Cenk Yiğiter, his lawyer Erkan Çiftçi and Erdoğan’s lawyer Sami Kabadayı. Yiğiter, making his defence in the trial brought following a complaint by a former student, called two witnesses to testify that the president was not referred to in the said comment. Erdoğan's lawyer Sami Kabadayı, in turn, alleged that the term “chief” had become associated with Erdoğan.

 In response to this, Cenk Yiğiter said, “‘Chief’ is one of the commonest nicknames in Turkey. To say that such a nickname has become associated with the head of state and has now been turned into an official title is reminiscent of Hitler's title of Führer or Mussolini's of Duce. There can be no talk of any such association in a democratic country.”

 At this, Erdoğan's lawyer Sami Kabadayı interrupted the testimony saying, “Of what relevance is this?” The court adjourned the hearing until 4 October 2018.

 ‘Reis’e hakaret davasında ‘Führer’li savunma