From CNN International
Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) — An Istanbul court slapped a world-renowned musician Monday with a 10-month suspended sentence for posting a series of tweets that poked fun at Islamic descriptions of heaven.
Classical concert pianist Fazil Say, 43, was found guilty of “openly insulting the religious values held by a portion of the public” for the tweets, which were posted last year.
“Although I am innocent and have not committed any crime, this decision I received is more worrisome for the freedom of expression and belief in Turkey than it is to me as a person,” Say wrote in a statement posted on his Facebook page. The sentence marks a “very sad day for freedom of expression in Turkey,” Say’s lawyer Meltem Akyol told CNN. “We were expecting an acquittal.”
“Freedom of expression does not entitle you to condescend or offend or insult people,” countered plaintiff Ali Emre Bukagili. “That’s a crime.”
Say’s tweets included: “You say the rivers will flow with wine, is heaven a tavern? You say each believer will receive two women, is heaven a brothel?” according to the indictment.
In another, Say joked about the short duration of a cleric’s traditional Islamic call to prayer. The tweet asked a rhetorical question to the chanting cleric: “What’s the hurry? Lover waiting?” the indictment said.
