World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Turkish presenter Serap Belovacıklı faces investigation over social media post
Turkish prosecutors opened an investigation into presenter Serap Belovacıklı over language in a social media post.
Belovacıklı works for Sözcü TV, and the investigation is being handled by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul.
It concerns a section of Turkey’s criminal code on publicly insulting a group based on characteristics such as religion, gender or region.
Belovacıklı said she had been replying to someone who insulted her and her family, and removed her post within an hour because she felt its wording did not reflect well on her.
She says her post targeted the person who insulted her, not the public.
Her lawyer also says she did not intend to insult the Turkish people.
Belovacıklı is due to give a statement to prosecutors on Wednesday, and says she will file a complaint against the person who insulted her.
Turkish presenter Serap Belovacıklı is under investigation over wording in a social media post.
Her lawyer said the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened the investigation under Article 216(2) of Turkey’s Criminal Code.
Belovacıklı said she was responding to a person who had insulted her and her family, and that she deleted the post within an hour.
She said she did not intend to insult the public and will give a statement to prosecutors on 14 October.
The prosecutor’s office has not made a public statement about the case.
- Who
- Serap Belovacıklı, a presenter on Sözcü TV.
- What
- She is under investigation over wording in a social media post.
- When
- The investigation was reported on 13 October 2026. She is due to give a statement on 14 October.
- Where
- The investigation was opened by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Turkey.
- Why
- Her lawyer said it concerns Article 216(2) of the Criminal Code, which covers publicly insulting a section of the population on specified grounds. Belovacıklı said she was replying to someone who had insulted her and her family.
Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office
Serap Belovacıklı
Meaning of the post
Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office
The investigation concerns a possible offence under Article 216(2), which covers publicly insulting a section of the population on specified grounds.
Serap Belovacıklı
Belovacıklı said she was responding to a person who had insulted her and her family, not insulting the public.
Her intent
Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office
The prosecutor’s office has not publicly stated its position.
Serap Belovacıklı
Belovacıklı said she did not mean the public and deleted the post within an hour because she felt the wording did not suit her.
Belovacıklı received insulting comments on an X post and replied with harsh, insulting wording.
Belovacıklı deleted the post, saying she felt its wording did not suit her.
Her lawyer said the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had opened an investigation.
Belovacıklı is due to give a statement to prosecutors.
- Presenter
- Serap Belovacıklı
- Broadcaster
- Sözcü TV
- Investigating office
- Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office
- Criminal Code provision
- Article 216(2)
- Scheduled statement
- 14 October 2026
What people are saying
But my response, aimed only at trolls who attacked me with vile insults on social media, was circulated in a way that created the impression I was insulting the people.
I will give a statement to the prosecutor, and I will also file a criminal complaint against the person who insulted me.
She did not mean the Turkish nation in her post and did not insult it.
Sources
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