Turkey Court Orders Release Of Top Journalist

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.© AFP OZAN KOSE

An Istanbul court on Monday ordered the release of leading Turkish journalist Kadri Gursel in the controversial trial of staff from the Cumhuriyet opposition newspaper, but ruled that four other detained suspects must stay in jail.

The judge ruled that Gursel, one of Turkey’s most respected journalists, could go free after 11 months in jail though he remains on trial on charges of links to terror groups, an AFP correspondent said. The trial was adjourned until October 31.

Gursel is now expected to be released from Silivri jail outside Istanbul in the course of Monday night once the formalities are completed.

Those remaining under arrest include the paper’s chairman Akin Atalay and editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu, who like Gursel have been held behind bars for 330 days.

Investigative reporter Ahmet Sik who has been held for 269 days, as well as accountant Emre Iper, who has been detained for 173 days, also remain under arrest.

AFP

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