Turkey sinks to 157th out of 180 countries in RSF Press Freedom ranking as more convictions in the Cumhuriyet trial…
The defendants, sentenced to two to seven years in prison, remain free pending their appeals, but the verdict keeps the pressure on journalists who are critical of the government.
The court has sentenced 15 people to prison in Cumhuriyet trial in which 20 people have been tried. Cumhuriyet Executive Board Chair Atalay has been released, Twitter user Aydoğdu’s detention continues.
Thirteen reporters, editors and executives from opposition Cumhuriyet daily face jail but vow to continue ‘to tell the truth’
A Turkish court has convicted journalists from the opposition Cumhuriyet daily for helping outlawed “terrorist” organisations – but editors vowed their “honourable” journalism would not stop.
In other news:
Turkish president said he could release two Greek border guards if Athens extradites officers who fled after coup attempt
Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has sparked anger with a proposal that two Greek border guards detained in the country since March be exchanged for eight Turkish officers who have sought asylum in Greece.
The Trump administration warned Turkey on April 18 that it is considering punitive “consequences” if the NATO ally does not throw out the charges or acquit an American pastor accused of espionage and aiding terrorist groups.
United States President Donald Trump voiced his support on April 17 for Pastor Andrew Brunson, who is on trial in Turkey on charges of espionage and terrorism, in a case that has compounded strains in U.S.-Turkish relations.
Tweeting in the wake of court ruling continuation of arrest of US citizen Priest Brunson, who has been tried in Turkey, Trump said, “They call him a spy. I am more a spy than he is”.
Presiding Judge of İstanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court has asked the academic, “Why didn’t you sign such declarations before even though several terrorist attacks were carried out?”
Turkey’s anti-war protesters detained: ‘Everything is a crime’
Families of students detained in Turkey for protesting against military action in Afrin say they are being wrongly targeted.
Journalists’ Union of Turkey has met with jailed journalist Zehra Doğan, who has been in Diyarbakır Type E Prison since June 12, 2017.
Charged with “propagandizing for a terrorist organization,” Ayşe Çelik will be imprisoned today with her 6-month-old baby. Upon the rejection of additional time requested for the Constitutional Court ruling, CHP MP Altıok has said, “They have considered even 10 days too much for an innocent baby.”
