Gollum's Character to Have Presidential Consequences

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 2 December 2015)


Expert to determine whether the resemblance is uncanny, or not.

In the case of 'insulting a government official' brought against
Dr. Bilgin Çiftçi for putting pictures of President Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan next to those of the 'Gollum' character from the film
'Lord of the Rings' on social media, the court has decided to have
the matter of whether 'Gollum' is bad examined by an expert.

Dr. Bilgin Çiftçi has served for 23 years at the Dalama health center
in Aydın.  On his Facebook page he posted three pictures of 'Gollum'
in a state of bewilderment, amazement and while eating, next to ones
of President Erdoğan.  An unknown person then filed a complaint
against Dr. Çiftçi and the posting was erased.

Dr. Çiftçi was fired from his job last month for 'insulting a high
state official' and a suit was filed against him for 'insulting a state
officer', which carries a jail sentence of from 3 months to 2 years.
The fourth hearing in the case was held yesterday in Aydın.


         President RTE

Lawyers for Dr. Çiftçi submitted a poll to the court's chief judge
Murat Saz, based on an internet sampling of opinions as to whether
'Gollum' is a beloved character.  Lawyer Hicran Danışman stated that
"in a poll conducted by the Birinci Basamak Health Workers Unity
and Solidarity Union, 20.6 % said that 'Gollum was good', 26.3%
said that 'Gollum was a victim' and 13.3% said that 'Gollum' was
neither good nor bad.  In addition, 7% said that 'Gollum is bad' and
8% said that 'Gollum was ugly'.

Judge Murat Saz decided to send the case file to an expert to have
two behavioral scientist or a psychologist and a cinema-TV expert
determine whether or not 'Gollum' is a bad character. The case was
postponed until 23 February 2016.  Dr. Çiftçi said that he was
bewildered by the decision.


                Aydın province