Categories: National

Turkey Jails Five Journalists Over ‘Terrorism Links, Propaganda’

An Istanbul court delivered prison sentence to five journalists over charges of “terrorist propaganda, links to a terrorist organization,” inflicting a blow to freedom of media and expression.

Four of those condemned received 18-month sentences for participating in a solidarity campaign with the now-defunct pro-Kurd daily Ozgur Gundem, according to the private Dogan news agency.

The paper’s editor-in-chief, Huseyin Akyol, was given three years and nine months behind bars, Dogan said, adding that the court noted a “lack of remorse” during his trial.

The five media workers, who weren’t in court on Tuesday, stood accused of participating in “terrorist propaganda” on behalf of the banned Kurdish Worker’s Party (PKK).

According to the P24 press freedom website, there are 151 journalists in Turkish prisons, most of whom were detained under the state of emergency imposed after 2016’s attempted coup.

The five journalists sentenced on Tuesday are currently at liberty pending confirmation of the verdict on appeal, the media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said.

Staff Writer

Share
Published by
Staff Writer
Tags: jail sentencejournalistsTurkey

Recent Posts

  • National

Turkey Reports Death of Fmr. Army Commander from Coronavirus, Pledges to Step Up Testing

Turkey hopes to step up coronavirus testing to reach up to 15,000 people per day, the health minister told the parliament…

4 years ago
  • Economy
  • National

Turkey Reports Second Coronavirus Death, Announces $15BN Aid Package for Economy

Turkey on Wednesday reported its second coronavirus fatality, as the number of confirmed cases rose to 191. President Recep Tayyip…

4 years ago
  • Foreign Affairs
  • International

Turkey Cuts Flights with Nine European Countries over Coronavirus

Turkey will halt flights with nine European countries, including France, Germany and Spain, the transport minister said Friday, as part…

4 years ago
  • National

Turkey Announces First Confirmed Coronavirus Case

Turkey announced Wednesday its first coronavirus case, a man who had recently travelled to Europe and is in good health.

4 years ago
  • Foreign Affairs
  • International

Hundreds Head Towards Europe Border After Turkey ‘Opens Gates’

Hundreds of migrants in Turkey were heading towards border regions with Europe, local media reported Friday, after Turkish authorities decided…

4 years ago
  • Foreign Affairs
  • International

33 Turkish Soldiers Killed in Syria’s Idlib

At least 33 Turkish soldiers were killed as violence escalates in Syria's Idlib province after an air strike blamed on…

4 years ago