ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s state-run news agency said lawyers for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have filed a criminal complaint against French magazine Le Point journalists for allegedly insulting him.

Anadolu Agency said Friday the criminal complaint was filed against editor-in chief Etienne Gernelle and journalist Romain Gubert at a Turkish court.

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In its cover page headline, Le Point called Erdogan “The Eradicator” in relation to Turkey’s military offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria. The front page also read: “ethnic cleansing, Erdogan’s method.”

Insulting the president is a crime in Turkey. Erdogan has filed thousands of complaints against journalists, politicians, students, and others for comments deemed to be insults.

In 2016, Erdogan sued a German comedian over a satirical poem, leading to diplomatic tensions with Germany and debate on freedom of speech. /kga

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