On January 12, 2024, Ali Mahir Başarır made remarks directed at Eyyüp Kadir İnan. The statements were specific enough that İnan felt his personal rights had been attacked, prompting him to seek legal redress.
Eyyüp Kadir İnan, represented by lawyer Abdulvahap Duman, brought a defamation lawsuit against Başarır. The suit alleged that the remarks went beyond the bounds of legitimate political criticism and constituted an affront to İnan’s personal dignity. By initiating the case, İnan sought a judicial determination on whether the speech crossed the line protected by free expression principles.
The Izmir 13th Civil Court of First Instance began its analysis by acknowledging the broader legal context. It noted that, according to Supreme Court precedent and European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence, individuals in the public sphere are expected to tolerate a higher level of criticism than ordinary citizens. This principle sets a baseline for what constitutes acceptable discourse in political debates.
The judgment described the rhetoric as humiliating and degrading, stating that it was not merely robust criticism but an attack that violated personal rights.
After weighing the specifics of the case, the court concluded that Başarır’s statements exceeded those permissible limits. The judgment described the rhetoric as humiliating and degrading, stating that it was not merely robust criticism but an attack that violated personal rights. This finding moved the matter from the realm of permissible debate into the territory of actionable defamation.
Having established that the remarks were unlawful, the court ordered Ali Mahir Başarır to pay 110,000 Turkish Lira in moral damages to Eyyüp Kadir İnan. The figure reflects the court’s assessment of the non‑pecuniary harm suffered by the plaintiff as a result of the statements.
Abdulvahap Duman, counsel for İnan, announced that his client intends to donate the entire compensation amount to the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation. The lawyer said the decision reflects İnan’s wish to turn the proceeds of the case into charitable aid rather than personal gain.