Turkish historian remanded over Ataturk insult

By Melike Gallenkus

ISTANBUL (AA) – A Turkish historian who is accused of insulting Turkey’s founding leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in a television program has been remanded in custody, an Istanbul court said Friday.

Suleyman Yesilyurt, 68 who went to Bakirkoy Courthouse on Friday with his lawyer daughter, is accused of “defamation of Ataturk’s memory” and “inciting people to hatred and hostility,” Istanbul’s Bakirkoy court said.

On Thursday, Bakirkoy court had issued an arrest warrant for two people including Yesilyurt on charges of insulting Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.

Turkey’s top broadcast regulator also had fined a private television channel on Wednesday for allegedly insulting 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) --which is hosted by Yesilyurt --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.