Turkish historian remanded over Atatürk insult

A Turkish historian who is accused of insulting Turkey's founding leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in a television program has been remanded in custody, an Istanbul court said Friday.

Süleyman Yeşilyurt, 68 who went to Bakirkoy Courthouse on Friday with his lawyer daughter, is accused of "defamation of Atatürk's memory" and "inciting people to hatred and hostility," Istanbul's Bakirkoy court said.

On Thursday, Bakirköy court had issued an arrest warrant for two people including Yeşilyurt on charges of insulting Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.

Turkey's top broadcast regulator also had fined a private television channel on Wednesday for allegedly insulting Atatürk during one of its programs.

The Radio and Television Supreme Council's decision came after a show called Derin Tarih (deep history in English) --which is hosted by Yeşilyurt --was aired on the Turkish channel, TVnet, on Saturday.

According to the council, the television show tarnished the reputation of Atatürk by commenting on his private life and by taking the names and showing photos of women he was allegedly romantically involved with.