Prosecution Recommends Release of 13 Journalists

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29 journalists and writers including Atilla Taş and Murat Aksoy were standing trial over investigation launched following the July 15 coup attempt upon accusations of being affiliated with the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ). 

Taking into account the time the suspects served in prison, the probability that the classification of the offence might change and that most of the necessary evidence had already been collected, the prosecutor of the case has recommended that 13 of the journalists be released with an international travel ban.

The prosecutor has also submitted that the other suspects be further kept under arrest due to the character and nature of the crime as well as the solid evidence indicating that the crimes were committed by the suspects.

The first hearing of the trial before İstanbul 25th High Criminal Court was held on Monday (March 27).

What Happened?

On August 30, 2016, İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had issued a detention order for 35 people including several academics and journalists as part of the investigation launched into the FETÖ following the coup attempt on July 15. 27 of the 35 detainees were arrested later. The journalists and writers arrested on different days, had been waiting to stand trial for eight days.

The state-run Anadolu News Agency had reported on the detention order for the journalists and writers under "Operation against the media organization of FETÖ".

The suspects of the trial are employers, owners and writers of Millet daily, Cihan News Agency, Zaman daily, Meydan daily, Yeni Hayat daily, Bugün daily and Rota News, Samanyolu News websites.

There are 29 suspects standing trial 26 of whom are arrested. Warrant has been issued to take two suspects forcibly to testify.
Said Sefa faces 22,5 and the other 28 suspects face 15 years in prison each.

The names of those who stood trial are as follows:

Abdullah Kılıç, Ahmet Memiş, Ali Akkuş, Atilla Taş, Bayram Kaya, Bülent Ceyhan, Bünyemin Köseli, Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu, Cihan Acar, Cuma Ulus, Davut Aydın, Emre Soncan, Gökçe Fırat Çulhaoğlu, Habip Güler, Halil İbrahim Balta, Hanım Büşra Erdal, Hüseyin Aydın, Muhammet Sait Kuloğlu, Muhterem Tanık, Murat Aksoy, Mustafa Erkan Acar, Mutlu Çölgeçen, Oğuz Usluer, Said Sefa, Seyid Kılıç, Ufuk Şanlı, Ünal Tanık, Yakup Çetin, Yetkin Yıldız. (NV/DG)