File Photo: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Agence France-Presse)
Ankara:
A teenager was taken away from his school and detained by police for allegedly insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to reports in Turkish media.
Hurriyet newspaper says the 16-year-old high-school student, identified only by his initials M.E.A., was arrested on Wednesday in the central city of Konya for making a speech at a student protest a day earlier.
The boy reportedly said Erdogan was regarded as the "thieving owner of the illegal palace" in reference to a government corruption scandal as well as a controversial 1,150-room new palace, which Erdogan inaugurated in October.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu defended the arrest today saying, "the presidential office needs to be shown respect."
The boy could face up to four years in prison if convicted of insulting the President.
Hurriyet newspaper says the 16-year-old high-school student, identified only by his initials M.E.A., was arrested on Wednesday in the central city of Konya for making a speech at a student protest a day earlier.
The boy reportedly said Erdogan was regarded as the "thieving owner of the illegal palace" in reference to a government corruption scandal as well as a controversial 1,150-room new palace, which Erdogan inaugurated in October.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu defended the arrest today saying, "the presidential office needs to be shown respect."
The boy could face up to four years in prison if convicted of insulting the President.
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