Turkey jailed a bakery union head for "publicly insulting the Turkish nation" on Nov. 9, state media reported, after he said society's "stupid" fondness for bread explained why it had elected President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's governments for two decades.
Union for Bread Producers Chair Cihan Kolivar made the comments to broadcaster Haberturk on Monday as he spoke about the rising price of bread and Turkey's soaring inflation.
"Bread is the staple food for stupid societies.
"Since our society eats their fill with bread, such rulers have been ruling it for 20 years.".
An Istanbul court on Wednesday remanded him in custody pending trial, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.
Critics blame Turkey's economic ills on Erdoğan's unorthodox monetary policies, which he says are aimed at boosting exports, investment and jobs.
"In addition to insulting our nation and bread, this person's statements show that he is an element of the politics of hostility, the politics of hatred," Çelik said. »
