Turkish-Armenian columnist fined for ‘insulting’ Ankara mayor

Turkish-Armenian columnist fined for ‘insulting’ Ankara mayor –

A local court in Ankara has fined Armenian-origin columnist Hayko Bagdat 1,160 Turkish Liras for “insulting” Ankara Mayor Melih Gokchek via his Twitter account, after Gokchek complained that he had used the words “Armenian” and “disgusting” to describe him.

In his defense, Bagdat said Gokchek repeatedly asks his critics on social media whether they are “Armenian,” adding that the Ankara mayor is “disgusting” for using the term “Armenian” to describe people he dislikes. He demanded his acquittal and told the court that he did not deliberately intend to “insult” Gokchek.

Ali Deniz Ceylan, Bagdat’s lawyer, also told the court that Gokchek, who is well-known in Turkey as a prolific Twitter user, has tweeted many derogatory statements against which his client has responded.

However, Judge Suleyman Koksaldi sentenced Bagdat to a fine of 1,160 liras, while also delaying a compensation lawsuit opened by Gokchek against Bağdat.

Shortly after the ruling, Bagdat slammed the decision via his Twitter account on December 7.

“My last words on this issue: Gokchek is committing a hate crime by calling anyone he dislikes ‘Armenian.’ This is disgusting behavior. Also, Gokchek himself is an Armenian,” he tweeted.

Back on September 28, Bagdat told reporters that he faced a jail term after calling Gokchek “Armenian.”

“Ankara Mayor Melih Gokchek has opened a court case [because] I called him ‘Armenian.’ Let me say why I called him ‘Armenian.’ Whenever he grabs a microphone or takes the keyboard in his hands, he calls his political rivals, the voters of his political rivals … journalists, and anyone he is angry with, ‘Armenian.’ He constantly says they are traitors because they are ‘Armenians’ or they have ‘Armenian’ roots, as if all elements making trouble for this country must somehow have a relationship to ‘Armenianness,’” he said.