Seven employees of opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper released for the duration of trial

Record ID: 904445

  • Title: Seven employees of opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper released for the duration of trial
  • Date: 28th July 2017
  • Summary: SILIVRI, TURKEY (JULY 29, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE SILIVRI COMPOUND GENDARMERIE SOLDIERS GESTURING AT CROWD AS VAN CARRYING RELEASED JOURNALISTS AND OTHER CUMHURIYET EMPLOYEES ARRIVING TO THE ENTRANCE CROWD HEADING TO ENTRANCE GENDARMERIE SOLDIER ASKING CROWD TO STEP BACK CROWD CHANTING (Turkish): "FREE MEDIA CANNOT BE SILENCED" CUMHURIYET CARTOONIST, MUSA KART, BEING GREETED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AFTER BEING RELEASED RELEASED JOURNALISTS AND EMPLOYEES HUGGING THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES WOMAN HUGGING, COLUMNIST HAKAN KARA CUMHURIYET NEWSPAPER'S LAWYER KEMAL GUNGOR, WHO WAS ARRESTED AS PART OF THE PROBE, KISSING AND HUGGING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES AFTER BEING RELEASED (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) CUMHURIYET COLUMNIST, HAKAN KARA, SAYING: "If you ask any of our readers which newspaper fights against FETO (refers to the network of U.S. based cleric Fethullah Gulen) the most? They would say: 'Cumhuriyet'. Cumhuriyet has been fighting against FETO for 40 years. I have witnessed this fight for 34 years. Therefore, you cannot link Cumhuriyet to FETO. Therefore, it is proved that this indictment is unrealistic. The public have seen this. We are happy to be released but we are experiencing a bittersweet joy because four of our friends are still in jail. We will get them out as soon as possible." PLACARDS READING (Turkish): "PEOPLE HAVE RIGHT TO NEWS" VARIOUS OF RELEASED JOURNALISTS AND EMPLOYEES OF CUMHURIYET POSING FOR MEDIA
  • Embargoed: 12th August 2017 00:20
  • Keywords: journalists security Cumhuriyet newspaper prison Turkey trial rights press freedom released
  • Location: SILIVRI, TURKEY
  • City: SILIVRI, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016RMW213
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Seven employees of an opposition newspaper were released from prison early on Saturday (July 29) with a court ruling as four others were remanded in custody.
    Since the first hearing in the case on Monday, hundreds of people have protested outside the central Istanbul court against the prosecution of 17 writers, executives and lawyers of the secularist Cumhuriyet newspaper.
    The court remanded in custody the chairman of Cumhuriyet's executive committee Akin Atalay, its chief editor Murat Sabuncu, and reporters Kadri Gursel and Ahmet Sik until the next hearing on Sept. 11, citing the gravity of the charges they face.
    Chief judge Abdurrahman Orkun Dag freed seven others, including cartoonist Musa Kart and columnist Hakan Kara, until the next hearing on "judicial probation" - meaning they cannot leave the country and must report regularly to a police station.
    Turkish prosecutors are seeking up to 43 years in jail for the newspaper staff, who stand accused of targeting Erdogan through "asymmetric war methods".
    The 324-page indictment alleges Cumhuriyet was effectively taken over by the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed for a failed coup last July, and used to "veil the actions of terrorist groups".
    Cumhuriyet says the charges are "imaginary accusations and slander".
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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