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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Ruth Michaelson and Gökçe Saraçoğlu

Key Turkish opposition figure banned from politics after anti-Erdoğan tweet

Canan Kaftancıoğlu holding up her hands
Canan Kaftancıoğlu, head of the Istanbul branch of the main opposition, told supporters: ‘Never stop, do not give up, do not get tired.’ Photograph: Ozan Köse/AFP/Getty Images

A leading Turkish opposition figure has been banned from politics and sentenced to almost five years in prison, drawing widespread concern about a crackdown on leftwing organisers and politicians before elections expected within the year.

An Istanbul appeals court on Thursday confirmed three charges against Canan Kaftancıoğlu, the head of the Istanbul branch of the main opposition Republican People’s party (CHP), upholding her convictions for insulting a public official, publicly insulting the republic of Turkey, and insulting the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in tweets accusing him of theft.

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