Turkish journalists fight ‘spying’ charges
November 30, 2015Lawyers for two journalists from a Turkish opposition newspaper on Monday appealed a court ruling to detain them on spying charges, over a report revealing how Ankara shipped arms bound for Islamist jihadists in Syria, the daily said.
The lawyers for Cumhuriyet‘s editor-in-chief Can Dundar and its Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul wrote in the appeal that they objected to last week’s court decision which they said contradicted the Turkish constitution and law.
“The rest is yours. It’s your choice and responsibility,” the lawyers said.
An Istanbul court on Thursday charged the two journalists with “aiding a terrorist organization” and spying for alleging that Turkey, a fierce critic of President Bashar al-Assad, had covertly shipped arms to Syria.
Both were remanded in custody pending trial, but no date has been set and it may be months away. If convicted, both men face up to 45 years in prison.
Cumhuriyet reported that Turkish security forces in January 2014 intercepted a convoy of trucks near the Syrian border carrying boxes of what it described as weapons and ammunition bound for Syria, ostensibly for rebels fighting the Assad regime.
The footage, which was published on the newspaper’s website in May, showed police opening crates of weapons and ammunition on the back of trucks which Cumhuriyet claimed belonged to the Turkish Intelligence Organization (MIT).
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had warned Dundar he would “pay a heavy price” for the scoop.
In comments published in the Hurriyet newspaper, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said publication of state secrets amounted to a “crime” but suggested that both men should be released pending trial.
“I am of the opinion that it would be accurate to proceed down a path of a release pending trial except for compulsory cases,” he said, while warning against manipulating the judiciary.
Last week’s ruling sparked new alarm over Turkey’s press freedom record, with the European Union describing the news as “worrying.”
In a letter to EU leaders on the eve of Sunday’s meeting with Turkey, the two journalists wrote from their prison cell that “your solidarity is more vital than ever.”
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said despite a deal with Turkey to contain the refugee crisis, “we have not forgotten the differences that still remain with Turkey over human rights and freedom of the press, and we will return to them.”
AFP contributed to this report.
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...