Turkey's Erdogan sues Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker for insults

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is suing Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders after anti-Islam politician posted a series of tweets against Turkish leer, including one that described him as a “terrorist.”

state-run Anolu ncy said Erdogan’s lawyer on Tuesday filed a criminal complaint against Wilders at Ankara Chief Prosecutor’s office for “insulting president” -- a crime in Turkey punishable by up to four years in prison.

Wilders posted a cartoon depicting Erdogan wearing a bomb-resembling hat on his he, with comment: “terrorist.”

Wilders continued posting tweets targeting Erdogan this week amid a growing quarrel between Turkey and European countries sparked by Erdogan’s sharp comments against French President Emmanuel Macron, including remarks questioning Macron’s mental health over his stance on Islam.

Erdogan has persistently sued people for alleged insults since he took office as president in 2014. Thousands have been convicted. More than 29,000 people were prosecuted on charges of insulting Erdogan last year, according to Birgun newspaper.

complaint against Wilders, whose political career has been based largely on his strident anti-Islam rhetoric, accused him of using langu “insulting hor and dignity of our president and of targeting Erdogan’s personality, dignity and reputation,” according to Anolu.

Wilders, who les largest opposition party in Dutch Parliament, shrugged off Turkish criminal complaint and described Erdogan as a “loser.” Wilders has lived under tight security for 16 years due to death threats following his anti-Islam rhetoric.

On Monday, Turkey's Daily Sabah newspaper, which is close to Erdogan, printed pictures of Wilders and Macron, with heline: “ two faces of hatred and racism in Europe.”