The case filed against me three years ago, which resulted in my three-week detention at Denizli Kocabaş High-Security Prison on charges of Public Insult to the President, has been concluded as of Friday, November 15, 2024, with a verdict of acquittal.
During this process, despite the principle of presumption of innocence as stipulated in Article 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), false accusations about me were widely spread in the media and public, which violated my personal rights and undermined the principle of impartial judicial proceedings.
In this context:
- Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code (TPC) (defamation),
- Article 267 of the TPC (false accusation),
and other relevant provisions have been invoked to file compensation lawsuits for unlawful actions regarding defamatory and false publications.
Furthermore, legal actions have been initiated under Articles 24 and 25 of the Turkish Civil Code to safeguard my personal rights.
As explicitly stated in Article 34 of the CPC, court rulings are binding for everyone, and ensuring justice is the fundamental duty of the judiciary. In this regard, the acquittal verdict issued in my case is a manifestation of justice.
I extend my gratitude to my friends who believed in and supported me during this time and to the independent and impartial judicial officials who performed their duties with integrity. It must be remembered that justice and truth will ultimately prevail.
Sincerely,
Halil Bâki Çelen