British artist acquitted of insulting Turkish PM

The court said that although the work by Michael Dickinson "had some insulting elements ... it is considered within limits of criticism and he has been acquitted."

Dickinson was facing a maximum sentence of two years in prison on charges of insulting Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in collages he displayed two years ago, his lawyer Volkan Gultekin said.

"I am lucky to be acquitted," Dickinson said by telephone after the verdict in the fourth hearing. "There are still artists in Turkey facing prosecution and being sentenced for their opinions."

Dickinson, who lives in Turkey, displayed his artwork, showing U.S. President George W. Bush attaching a rosette to Erdogan who is depicted as a poodle, in 2006. Another collage shows Erdogan’s head superimposed on a dogs body.

The artist was held for 10 days in 2006 after police seized the second collage.

At the time, he was ordered to leave the country, but was charged when he returned on a tourist visa a few weeks later.

Lawyers for the Turkish prime minister routinely open cases against journalists for insults. However, Turkish courts have in the past acquitted cartoonists who drew Erdogan’s face on the body of an animal.

Photo: AP