Turkey’s top appeals court upholds jail term for prominent opposition figure
Canan Kaftancioglu, head of the CHP’s Istanbul branch, sentenced to nearly five years and barred from politics for insulting Erdogan and the Turkish government.
Turkey's top appeals court today upheld a jail sentence of more than four years against prominent opposition official Canan Kaftancioglu on charges of insulting the president and the Turkish government. The ruling, which also barred her from politics, has raised further concerns over Turkey’s judicial independence in the leadup to the 2023 elections
Speaking after the ruling, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu struck a defiant tone in a speech directly addressing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Flanked by Kaftancioglu and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Immaoglu, Kilicdaroglu said, “Canan is fearless, Canan is gallant, and Canan is ours. Let everyone know this,” in a televised speech.
“You’re a bully, you’re a manipulator,” he lashed out at Erdogan.“There is a whole public behind Canan, whom you are trying to punish. Don't forget that for a second," he added.
