Turkey Jails 9 Protesters Who Disturb President Erdogan's Speech

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan/IST

JAKARTA - The Turkish court jailed nine protesters who disrupted President Tayyip Erdogan's speech in Istanbul last week.

Demonstrators accusing his government of continuing to export oil to Israel despite the published embargo now awaiting trial.

The incident occurred when Erdogan made a televised address on the forum on Friday last week. Protesters say the government failed to enforce pro-Palestinian rhetoric.

They shouted slogans like'ships carry bombs into Gaza' and 'Stop sparking genocide'.

Erdogan responded sharply.

"My son, don't be the funnel of Zionists here. No matter how hard you try to provoke them by becoming their voices, mouths and eyes, you won't succeed," he said.

"Zionists around the world know very well where Tayyip Erdogan is. But it looks like you still don't understand," said Erdogan,

Police expelled the demonstrators from the event, and prosecutors charged them with insulting the president and participating in illegal demonstrations.

Head of the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office said the group had coordinated their actions inside and outside the location and requested their detention pending trial.

The arrest drew strong criticism from opposition politicians and human rights defenders. Chief opposition leader of the People's People's Republic (CHP) Ozgur Ozel denounced the detention as a blow to democracy.

"The decision to arrest nine youths who protested Tayyip Erdogan proves how bad the democratic situation is in our country," Ozel said.

These young people use their right to freedom of expression and must be released immediately, he stressed.