Turkish Opposition Journalists On Trial for ‘Aiding Terrorism’

ISTANBUL (AP) – Journalists and staff from a Turkish newspaper staunchly opposed to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are going on trial in Istanbul, accused of aiding terror organisations – a case that has added to concerns over rights and freedoms in Turkey.

Seventeen of the defendants, including Cumhuriyet’s editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu, investigative journalist Ahmet Sik, commentator Kadri Gursel and cartoonist Musa Kart were set to appear in court on Monday, on charges of sponsoring several outlawed organizations, including Kurdish militants, a far-left group and the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who is blamed for last year’s failed coup.

Two other defendants are being tried in absentia.

Their arrests were part of a widespread crackdown in the wake of the coup, which has led to the imprisonment of more than 50,000 people.