Turkey teenager accused of insulting president released

A Turkish teenager who was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly insulting the president has been released.

A court freed the 16-year-old, listed by his initials as MEA, but he still faces trial and a possible four-year sentence if found guilty. He was arrested after criticising the ruling Islamic-rooted AK Party during a speech in the central city of Konya.

The left condemned the arrest but PM Ahmet Davutoglu defended it, saying that respect had to be shown.

"Everyone must respect the office of president whoever he is," Mr Davutoglu said.

Turkey's penal code makes it a crime to insult the president...Read More

Credit: BBC News