A prison sentence of up to 2 years was requested against Prof. Dr. Celal Şengör within the scope of the investigation carried out on the charge of “publicly humiliating the Turkish nation” due to his statements in a video shared on social media.
The indictment prepared by Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that an investigation was initiated after Şengör’s speech in Istanbul on November 20, 2024 was shared on social media. The indictment stated that Şengör’s speech included the following statements: “Turkey is a tiny country… I have never met a society as ignorant and devoid of morality as the Turkish people… The average IQ is 86…”, caused outrage among the public.
The indictment stated that Şengör’s defense that his words were based on scientific data was not sufficient, and based on the investigation permit obtained from the Ministry of Justice General Directorate of Criminal Affairs, a prison sentence of up to 2 years was demanded on the grounds that it was “humiliating and degrading the nation”.
17.05.2025
Cumhuriyet