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Turkish schoolboy accused of insulting president is released from custody Turkish schoolboy accused of insulting president is released from custody
(35 minutes later)
A Turkish teenager has been released from custody after his arrest for allegedly insulting the country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, caused uproar.A Turkish teenager has been released from custody after his arrest for allegedly insulting the country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, caused uproar.
The 16-year-old student, Mehmet Emin Altunses, was taken away from his school on Wednesday and jailed for making a speech during a student protest in which he reportedly said Erdoğan was regarded as the “thieving owner of the illegal palace”.The 16-year-old student, Mehmet Emin Altunses, was taken away from his school on Wednesday and jailed for making a speech during a student protest in which he reportedly said Erdoğan was regarded as the “thieving owner of the illegal palace”.
It was a reference to a government corruption scandal as well as a controversial 1,150-room palace Erdoğan inaugurated in October.It was a reference to a government corruption scandal as well as a controversial 1,150-room palace Erdoğan inaugurated in October.
A court in the central Turkish city of Konya agreed to free the boy from police custody on Friday, after dozens of lawyers petitioned for his release.A court in the central Turkish city of Konya agreed to free the boy from police custody on Friday, after dozens of lawyers petitioned for his release.
He was met by his parents as he left the main courthouse building in the city, the CNN-Turk channel reported.He was met by his parents as he left the main courthouse building in the city, the CNN-Turk channel reported.
His speech was delivered on Wednesday in Konya, a bastion of the ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development party (AKP).His speech was delivered on Wednesday in Konya, a bastion of the ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development party (AKP).
The boy, who was arrested by police at school, denied links with a political party but confirmed he had made the statements in question.The boy, who was arrested by police at school, denied links with a political party but confirmed he had made the statements in question.
Despite being released he still remains accused of insulting Erdoğan and faces trial at a date yet to be specified. He risks up to four years in prison if convicted.Despite being released he still remains accused of insulting Erdoğan and faces trial at a date yet to be specified. He risks up to four years in prison if convicted.
The boy’s lawyer, Baris Ispir, had submitted a petition for his release to the court, together with around 100 colleagues who came from Istanbul in a show of support.The boy’s lawyer, Baris Ispir, had submitted a petition for his release to the court, together with around 100 colleagues who came from Istanbul in a show of support.
His arrest came amid growing concerns about freedom of speech in Turkey under Erdoğan following raids earlier this month on opposition media linked to the president’s top foe, exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen.His arrest came amid growing concerns about freedom of speech in Turkey under Erdoğan following raids earlier this month on opposition media linked to the president’s top foe, exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen.
But the prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu had supported the court’s original decision to arrest the boy, saying: “Everyone must respect the office of president whoever he is.” But the prime minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, had supported the court’s original decision to arrest the boy, saying: “Everyone must respect the office of president whoever he is.”