Journalist Fatih Altaylı, who has been detained at Silivri Prison since June 22 on allegations of threatening the president in remarks on his YouTube channel, has an indictment filed against him that calls for as much as five years in jail.
His statements against Erdoğan were deemed threats under the Turkish Penal Code, according to the indictment written by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
Prosecutors say Altaylı made the threats in response to a question about Erdoğan by stating that, in the past, the people had slaughtered and drowned the sultans they did not like.
In his deposition, Altaylı said that his remarks referred to a historical context, that he did not intend to threaten or insult anyone and that his comment has been misinterpreted.
Altaylı's lawyer Ömer Teker told Euronews Turkish that they will prepare a defence as soon as possible.
Despite his detention, millions continue to tune in to Altaylı’s YouTube channel, where his absence is marked by an image of an empty chair. Each day, Altaylı sends a letter that is read aloud by his program partner. Journalists, politicians, and close friends then join the program to discuss current events and show solidarity.
Altaylı was arrested on June 22 not under Article 106/1, which regulates general threats, but under Article 310/2, reserved for physical attacks against the president. If charged under Article 106/1, Altaylı would have faced six months to two years in prison and likely remained free pending trial. But under Article 310/2, which mandates a minimum sentence of five years, his televised remarks were treated as if they constituted physical assault—despite the law requiring actual physical acts.
