Student Faces Charges for “Insulting the President” Amidst Campus Protests
Galatasaray University student under house arrest for social media posts critical of government
A Galatasaray University student, Arda Karademir, is facing charges of “public insult to the president” following social media activity critical of the government. The 21-year-old has been under house arrest for 95 days.
University Protests and Investigation
Arda Karademir, a second-year student, was detained in a dawn raid on his dormitory before May 1st. His detention followed protests and an investigation launched over social media shares. The case has drawn condemnation from university students, along with political figures like CHP presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu and Galatasaray University Faculty of Business Department Head Dr. Naciye Aylin Ataay Saybaşlı.
Indictment Details President’s Statement
An indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses Kademir of publicly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The charges stem from a social media post on February 8th, which referenced a February 6th statement by the President. In that statement, President Erdogan had said, “We will open the book we hold when the day comes.”
“Fearing you and his threats, submitting to the tyranny, when the day comes from you and you who do not ask for justice in the face of justice.”
—Arda Karademir
Personal Tragedy Cited Amidst Charges
The indictment includes Kademir‘s testimony, where he states he lost many relatives in the Hatay earthquake. He described being in a sensitive spiritual period at the time and argued that his social media posts were not intended as insults but rather as a reaction to systemic issues following the disaster. Official reports indicate over 53,000 lives were lost in the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey in February 2023.
Prosecutors maintain that Kademir‘s posts damaged the honor, dignity, and reputation of the President. Despite arguments for freedom of expression and criticism, the court has decided to continue the house arrest measure against him.
Court Upholds House Arrest
The Istanbul 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance has ruled to continue Kademir‘s house arrest. The court stated that considering the overall file, the nature and duration of the alleged offense, and ongoing judicial control measures, the house arrest would be maintained.
“The defendant Arda Karademir has not yet been defense, the quality of the action, the duration and scope of the judicial control measure and the scope of the whole file are evaluated together, the judicial control measure applied against the accused will be measured at this stage of the Istanbul 10th Magistrate Criminal Court dated May 3, 2025.”
—Istanbul 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance
Lawyer Criticizes Detention Process
Arda Karademir‘s lawyer, Mustafa Atahan Öztürk, criticized the prolonged detention and the judicial process. He stated that his client was taken into custody without any initial reason provided. The lawyer highlighted that their defense statements and expert opinions regarding health issues have not been adequately considered.
