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For Immediate Release
Contact:

Mariya Parodi, media@aiusa.org

A Dark Day for Press Freedom in Turkey After Politically Motivated Trial Injustice

Following a trial court's decision to sentence Nazli Ilicak and Ahmet Altan to 10-and-a-half, and 8 years and 9 months in prison, on ludicrous charges of "knowingly and willingly assisting a terrorist organization," Sara Hall, Deputy Regional Director of Campaigns for Amnesty International, said:

WASHINGTON

Following a trial court's decision to sentence Nazli Ilicak and Ahmet Altan to 10-and-a-half, and 8 years and 9 months in prison, on ludicrous charges of "knowingly and willingly assisting a terrorist organization," Sara Hall, Deputy Regional Director of Campaigns for Amnesty International, said:

"The convictions of Ahmet Altan and NazliI licak are shocking and the sentences imposed on them are outrageous. While it is a relief that they will be released on bail pending appeal, the fact that they have been convicted without a shred of evidence presented against them, is not justice.

"This is a yet another dark day for freedom of expression and for justice in Turkey which increases the country's suffocating climate of fear.

"What should have been an opportunity to undo a wrong and dismiss this politically motivated prosecution, has only exposed the broken nature of Turkey's justice system. More than a year after lifting the state of emergency and despite the promise of 'reform,' Turkey's judiciary remains in a downward spiral."

Background

Nazli Ilicak and Ahmet Altan have been in pre-trial detention for over three years on bogus charges. They were initially charged with "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order" and sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment. They are now being re-tried on terrorism charges following a decision by the Supreme Court of Appeals in July 2019.

Another defendant, journalist and academic Mehmet Altan was acquitted and the judicial control measures imposed on him were lifted.

The three other defendants in the case, Fevzi Yazici, Yakup Simsek and Sukru Tugrul Ozsengul, reportedly received lengthy prison terms for "membership in a terrorist organization" and the court ruled for their continued detention in prison.

This statement is available at: https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/a-dark-day-for-press-freedom-in-turkey-after-politically-motivated-trial-injustice

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