Prosecutor accuses main opposition leader of insulting Erdoğan
In December 2018 Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu implied that Erdoğan was the head of the FETÖ’s political branch.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has submitted a summary of proceedings to the Turkish parliament accusing main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Milliyet daily reported on Saturday.
In December 2018 Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu implied that Erdoğan was the head of the FETÖ’s political branch.
FETÖ is a derogatory term coined by the Erdoğan government to refer to the Gülen movement after accusing it of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt.
Although the movement strongly denies any involvement in the abortive putsch, the government launched a massive crackdown targeting its followers and labeling them as terrorists.
After the 2016 failed coup, the Turkish opposition theorized that the putschists must have had liaisons among the country’s politicians, sparking a debate over FETÖ’s “political” branch.
The opposition mainly implies that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is that branch since Erdoğan’s party was allied with the Gülen movement before 2013.
The Ankara prosecutor’s office accused Kılıçdaroğlu of insulting Erdoğan by portraying him as affiliated with a terrorist organization.
Although Turkish deputies have immunity from legal proceedings, parliament can vote to lift their protection after receiving a summary of proceeding from a prosecutor.
Source: Turkish Minute
