Büşra Genel
Ankara - A court in Turkey has acquitted Dr. Ayşe Uğurlu, a 35-year forensic medicine specialist and executive board member of the Human Rights Branch of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), who had been charged with “insulting the president.”
The case stemmed from a press statement Uğurlu read on behalf of the Ankara Women’s Platform, after which she was dismissed from public service. She had been on trial on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Although the hearing was formally held at the Ankara 80th Criminal Court of First Instance, it took place in the courtroom of the 24th High Criminal Court due to insufficient space. Representatives of the Ankara Women’s Platform and numerous volunteer lawyers attended the hearing in support of Uğurlu.
In her defense statement, Uğurlu said the press statement did not contain any expressions targeting the president. She stated that the text criticized the system and male dominance, adding: “Claiming that such a text contains insults contradicts both its content and what it reflects. It is a critique of a system.”
Speaking after Uğurlu, her lawyer Ender Büyükçulha said his client had exercised her democratic rights as a physician and human rights defender.
In his defense statement, Büyükçulha said: “My client is not engaging in insult; she is a citizen of this country, a woman, and a human rights defender active in women’s issues and within the Ankara Women’s Platform. This is what we call democracy. Law is not something that progresses based on momentary emotions or personal values. Our judiciary has set precedents showing that criticism directed at both the president and politicians—including the use of the word ‘dictator’—does not constitute insult. Binding decisions have established this. The Ankara Women’s Platform has used similar expressions in other actions as well, and acquittals have been granted in those cases. If the court rules for acquittal, we will know that the principles of law are still being upheld.”
Another lawyer, Şevin Kaya, said Uğurlu is a member of the Turkish Medical Association and therefore remains committed in principle to the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty aimed at preventing violence against women, from which Turkey withdrew in 2021.
In her defense statement, Kaya said: “Her statements are a requirement of a democratic society. It has been stated in rulings by the Court of Cassation and in precedent decisions that administrators must be open to criticism. The president is not exempt from this. Despite these decisions, we do not find it in line with the law for the prosecution authority to evaluate this as a criminal offense.”
The court ultimately ruled to acquit Ayşe Uğurlu.
