President Tayyip Erdogan filed a criminal complaint against a prominent opposition lawmaker, one of Erdogan’s lawyers said on Tuesday after the deputy called the Turkish leader a fascist dictator.
In a blistering criticism of Erdogan, the spokesperson for the main opposition Republican People’s Party Bulent Tezcan attacked what he said was a “fearful atmosphere” in Turkey.
Tezcan’s comments prompted a swift backlash from Erdogan’s office and lawmakers from his ruling AK Party, with Erdogan’s spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin saying his “hate speech is an example of disgrace for the main opposition”.
Insulting the president is a crime punishable by up to four years in prison in Turkey.
