The crime of insulting the President is regulated in Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code. According to this article, a person cannot commit an act that could offend the honor, dignity and respect of the President.
Elements of the Crime of Insulting the President
The elements of the crime of insulting the President are as follows:
Act: The act must be of a nature that could offend the honor, dignity and respect of the President.
Intent: The act must be committed intentionally.
Victim: The victim must be the President.
Penalty for Insulting the President
The penalty for insulting the President is imprisonment from 1 to 4 years.
Qualified Cases of the Crime of Insulting the President
The qualified cases of the crime of insulting the President are as follows:
Committing publicly: If the act is committed publicly, the maximum penalty is imprisonment from 2 to 5 years.
Committed through press and publication: If the act is committed through press and publication, the upper limit of the penalty is imprisonment from 5 to 10 years.
Committed against authorities that can decide to commit a crime: If the act is committed against authorities that can decide to commit a crime, the upper limit of the penalty is imprisonment from 10 to 15 years.
Complaint for Insulting the President
The crime of insulting the President is not subject to complaint. Therefore, when the crime of insulting the President is committed, an investigation can be initiated and a lawsuit can be filed, even if no complaint is made.
Statute of Limitations for Insulting the President
The statute of limitations for the crime of insulting the President is 8 years.
Prevention of the Crime of Insulting the President
In order to prevent the crime of insulting the President, people must use legal means to defend their rights and avoid acts that may offend the honor, dignity and respect of the President.