Turkish President to withdraw lawsuits filed for insult

Ankara, July 30: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was withdrawing all lawsuits against people charged with insulting him as he was inspired by the feelings of unity in the wake of a failed attempted coup. “For one time only, I will be forgiving and withdrawing all cases against the many disrespects and insults that have been levelled against me,” Hurriyet Daily News quoted Erdogen as saying late Friday at a ceremony to commemorate the over 300 people killed during the July 15 failed coup attempt. “I feel that if we do not make use of this opportunity correctly, then it will give the people the right to hold us by the throat,” he added. According to Article 299 of the Turkish Pel Code, it is a crimil offence to insult the President. The offense carries a jail sentence of between one and four years, Hurriyet Daily News said. Since being elected in Turkey’s first public presidential elections in 2014, more than 2,000 people - including celebrities, jourlists and high school students - have faced charges for insulting Erdogan.(IANS)