Turkish trucker makes legal complaint against wife who kept insulting president

A TURKISH truck driver has lodged a legal complaint against his wife for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pro-government media reported yesterday.

Ali D, 40, who married GD three years ago, warned his wife repeatedly not to curse at the president when he appeared on television, newspaper reported on its website.

But she defied his warning and challenged her husband, saying: “Record and lodge a complaint.”

The man duly did so and lodged a complaint with Izmir prosecutors. It was not immediately clear if and when the case would go to trial. “I kept on warning her, saying why are you doing this? Our president is a good person and did good things for Turkey,” he was quoted as saying by

But he said his wife kept on insulting Mr Erdogan or just changed the channel whenever the president appeared on television. “Even if it is my father who swears against or insults the president, I would not forgive and I would complain,” Ali D said.

In return, the 38-year-old woman has opened a case against her husband for divorce, according to the report.

The case comes amid growing con- cern over the numbers of journalists, bloggers and even schoolchildren who are being taken to court on charges of insulting Mr Erdogan and other senior officials.

Opponents say Mr Erdogan has become increasingly authoritarian since becoming president in August 2014.