Moroccan Bar Association Files Complaint in Turkey Against Tawakkol Karman for Incitement to Violence
The Moroccan Bar Association has officially filed a complaint with Turkish authorities against Tawakkol Karman, the Yemeni activist naturalized as Turkish and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, accusing her of inciting violence and rebellion against the Kingdom of Morocco through posts on social media.
Acting through diplomatic channels, the association, headed by Me Mourad Elajouti, submitted a criminal complaint to the Turkish Public Prosecutor, denouncing a series of messages posted on X (formerly Twitter) in which Karman allegedly called for a “Moroccan intifada” and a “purification by blood.” The Moroccan lawyers consider these statements extremely serious, equating them to direct calls for sedition and violence against Moroccan institutions.
According to the Bar Association, this is not a matter of political opinion protected under freedom of expression but a direct incitement to terrorism, punishable under Turkish national security law.
The complaint cites specific provisions of the Turkish Penal Code, including Articles 216, 312, and 314 of Law No. 5237, which criminalize public incitement to hatred, provocation to commit crimes, and participation in terrorist organizations. It also references Article 340, which protects foreign heads of state from public insults—a rarely invoked provision with significant diplomatic implications.
The association emphasizes that the action aligns with Turkish Anti-Terror Law No. 3713, known for its rigor, and whose compliance has been repeatedly confirmed by the European Court of Human Rights, notably in the case of Recep Özdemir v. Turkey (2020), which upheld the legitimacy of sanctions for indirect incitement to violence.
In a statement, Me Mourad Elajouti highlighted the purely legal nature of this initiative, describing it as part of judicial and diplomatic cooperation between Morocco and Turkey, united in their fight against terrorism and extremist ideologies.
The Moroccan Bar Association is requesting the Turkish Prosecutor to open a criminal investigation for incitement to terrorism, aggravated insult, and disruption of public order, as well as to seize the incriminated digital content. The complaint also calls for Karman to be summoned before the competent authorities and, if necessary, detained during any stay in Turkish territory.
The lawyers underline that this initiative aims to uphold international law and Turkish legislation, in accordance with Articles 134 and 160 of the Turkish Code of Criminal Procedure, to ensure the manifestation of truth and the protection of inter-state relations against any form of violent or defamatory provocation.
Editorial team/le7tv
