First Photo of Journalist Ahmet Altan from Prison

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The first photograph of journalist Ahmet Altan from prison has been shared by her daughter Sanem Altan. Ahmet Altan has been behind bars since September 23, 2016.

Sanem Altan has shared the photograph that was captured on the visit day at Silivri Prison with the note, "Life passes, everyone passes, everything passes. Only remains a story. They all pass. Stories remain... The stories worth telling... Getting on in years means knowing it... Ahmet Altan, here is a story of Silivri..."

What happened?

In the wake of July 15 coup attempt, a large number of journalists have been detained and some of them arrested as part of the operation launched concerning media organization of "Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Organization".

Concerning Ahmet Altan, some news items published during the period when he served as Editor-in-Chief at Taraf newspaper, three columns, comments he made on a TV program he joined on July 14 and witness statements were cited as evidence. For Ahmet Altan, two columns, a TV program he joined with Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak on July 14 and witness statements were cited as evidence.

The case qualifies to be the first case in which journalists are accused of "participating in" the July 15 coup attempt.

After the 2nd Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice ruled on June 27, 2018 that Mehmet Altan, who was previously given an aggravated life imprisonment, shall be released from prison, Mehmet Altan was released. However, the court ruled that the arrests of Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak shall continue. (BK/SD)