Ahmet Davutoğlu gives statement at Ankara courthouse

Ahmet Davutoğlu appeared at Ankara Courthouse with his lawyer to give a statement in an investigation into alleged insults against the president. The former leader of the dissolved Future Party attended as a suspect, following an inquiry opened by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

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I should have been invited to provide information, not as a suspect.

Davutoğlu argued during his statement that the investigation had been launched for political reasons rather than on legal grounds. He said he should have been invited to provide information, not summoned as a suspect. He also defended the speech at issue, delivered in Bingöl on Sept. 11, 2021, saying he still stood behind every sentence and considered it political speech.

He cited established rulings by the European Court of Human Rights, Turkey's Constitutional Court and the Court of Cassation. In his view, those rulings recognize broader limits for acceptable criticism directed at politicians and people exercising public authority than for criticism of ordinary individuals. He asked authorities to decide, on legal, political and moral grounds, that there should be no prosecution.

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I will continue to express my views.

After the statement lasted about an hour, Davutoğlu addressed reporters outside the courthouse. He said he had appeared out of respect for the judiciary and because he believed nobody stood above it. He added that he had decided to withdraw from politics, but would continue expressing views consistent with his principles. Saadet Party leader Mahmut Arıkan and DEVA Party leader Ali Babacan accompanied him to the courthouse.

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Out of respect for the judiciary, and because I believe nobody stands above the judiciary, I gave my statement as a citizen of the Republic of Turkey.