The Moroccan Bar Association has filed a criminal complaint with the public prosecutor’s office in Turkey against Yemeni activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman, accusing her of inciting terrorism and violence, as well as publicly insulting the head of a foreign state.
The association stated, in the complaint signed by its president, lawyer Murad Al-Ajouti, that Karman published “inciting” tweets on her X platform account, calling for a revolution and uprising against the Moroccan regime, using language deemed offensive towards Moroccan state institutions.
The association emphasized that such statements exceed freedom of expression, constituting direct incitement to violence and sabotage, and engage in a discourse contrary to public security and peace, violating Turkish laws, particularly Penal Code No. 5237 and Law No. 3713 on combating terrorism.
The complaint referenced several legal articles, including:
– Article 216, which criminalizes incitement to hatred.
– Articles 312 and 314 concerning incitement to commit crimes and joining terrorist organizations.
– Article 220/6-7 relating to support for such organizations.
– Article 340, which considers public insult to the head of a foreign state a serious crime.
The association noted that Karman’s actions represent multiple criminal descriptions, combining incitement to terrorism, insult to a head of state, and glorification of violence, which justifies the call for judicial proceedings under Turkish law.
The complaint also cited several precedents in Turkish law, including the case of Bakir Aslan – Istanbul 2025, which resulted in a prison sentence due to terrorist-related publications, and the case of Recep Özdimir against Turkey before the European Court of Human Rights, which affirmed the state’s right to punish indirect incitement to violence.
The association called on Turkish authorities to take urgent measures, including opening an investigation, summoning Karman, confiscating her digital publications, and potentially detaining her upon entry into Turkish territory.
In a media statement, Murad Al-Ajouti affirmed that the initiative is purely legal and carries no political dimensions, stressing that the aim is to combat discourses that legitimize violence and terrorism and spread hatred in the name of freedom of expression. He added:
“We cannot accept the transformation of digital platforms into forums justifying sabotage and rebellion against legitimacy, especially when it comes from a personality who has received the Nobel Peace Prize. We have full confidence that Turkish justice will handle this case according to the law and international judicial standards.”
