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Dog artists facing jail in Turkey
A DURHAM artist who portrayed the Turkish Prime Minister as a dog could be jailed for refusing to pay a court fine.
Michael Dickinson, 59, appeared before a judge in Istanbul yesterday where he was found guilty of mocking Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The controversial artwork, called Good Boy, showed the Prime Minister as an animal with a stars and stripes lead and a nuclear missile for a tail.
Mr Dickinson, who has lived in Turkey for more than 20 years, was originally charged in 2006, but acquitted two years later.
But the case was reopened and Mr Dickinson was yesterday convicted of insulting Mr Erdogan.
After hearing that Mr Dickinson would refuse to pay any fine issued, the judge adjourned proceedings until March 9.
Speaking after the court hearing, Mr Dickinson said: "I told the judge that he gave me a fine I would not pay it as a protest at the attack on my freedom of speech."
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Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
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