Arrest warrant issued for 2 over Ataturk insult

ISTANBUL

A local court in Istanbul issued an arrest warrant for two people on charges of insulting Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, a judicial source said on Thursday.

Bakirkoy Chief Public Prosecutor Ertugrul Sariyar demanded their arrest as part of a probe into the “defamation of Ataturk’s memory”, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

Meanwhile, the top broadcast regulator of the country fined a private television channel on Wednesday for allegedly insulting Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during one of its programs.

The Radio and Television Supreme Council’s decision came after a show called Derin Tarih (deep history in English) was aired on the Turkish channel, TVnet, on Saturday.

According to the council, the television show tarnished the reputation of Ataturk by commenting on his private life and by taking the names and showing photos of women he was allegedly romantically involved with.

*Reporting by Melike Gallenkus; Writing by Cansu Dikme