A Turkish journalist is sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment for “insulting” President Abdullah Gul by saying that he is of the Armenian origin, Asbarez reported referring to Bianet. The lawsuit was filed by president’s office.

The defendant, Cem Buyukcakir, is the publication director of the news website Haberin Yeri. He published comment of the reader “accusing” Gul of being Armenian.

During the trail lawyers noted that publisher bears no responsibility for comments of the readers, asking to drop the charges. According to Asbarez, comment was posted in the end of 2008  when the Turkish Grand National Assembly was discussing the apology campaign on 1915.

“The fact that the Turkish President went to court for the “insult” of being called an Armenian demonstrates, according to human rights activists, the extent to which Armenians are vilified in Turkey,” the Asbarez writes.