Turkish Journalist Indicted for Threatening President Erdogan, Faces Five Years Prison

Turkish journalist Fatih Altaylı faces a minimum five-year prison sentence after prosecutors indicted him for comments deemed threatening to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The charges stem from a social media video in which Altaylı referenced a poll showing widespread opposition to Erdogan's continued rule and cited Ottoman history, noting that unpopular rulers were historically killed or drowned. Altaylı denies the charges, arguing that his remarks were rhetorical and taken out of context as part of a historical discussion. Erdogan’s aide Oktay Saral publicly criticized Altaylı’s statements, reflecting the Turkish government's sensitivity towards dissent. Altaylı’s arrest and indictment are part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures in Turkey, including the detention of Erdogan’s political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Critics argue these measures are aimed at silencing dissent amid rising political tensions.