NAN-F-29
Libel
Istanbul, Nov. 8, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Turkish President Recep Erdogan has filed charges against Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition centre-left People’s Republican Party (CHP), for “serious libel,” Kilicdaroglu’s spokesman said on Tuesday.
The charges are directed at a statement issued by the CHP which described Erdogan and the leadership of the ruling conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) as “the greatest danger” for democracy in Turkey.
Erdogan is also accused in the CHP statement of supporting the movement of U.S.-based Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen, the Islamic State terrorist organisation and the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The Turkish government blames Gulen and his followers of being behind the failed July 15 coup d’etat attempt in Turkey.
Until they fell out in 2013, Erdogan and Gulen were close allies. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/IEA
Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Idahosa Asowata