- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Istanbul Court Jails Two Opposition Reporters for Divulging State Secrets

© AP Photo / Emrah GurelTurkish journalists cover their mouths with black ribbons before the trial of Can Dundar, the editor-in-chief of opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet and Erdem Gul, the paper's Ankara representative, outside the courthouse in Istanbul, Friday, April 1, 2016
Turkish journalists cover their mouths with black ribbons before the trial of Can Dundar, the editor-in-chief of opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet and Erdem Gul, the paper's Ankara representative, outside the courthouse in Istanbul, Friday, April 1, 2016 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Istanbul court has sentenced two prominent Turkish journalists to over five years in jail for revealing state secrets, in particular, for unveiling confidential documents, local media reported Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Can Dundar and Erdem Gul from the Cumhuriyet opposition newspaper were arrested and placed in pre-trial detention in November 2015 for publishing an incriminating article and footage in the daily on May 29. Their investigation concluded that Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) trucks had carried containers with artillery shells, machine gun rounds and mortar shells to Syrian rebels.

Can Dundar, the editor-in-chief of opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet, speaks to the media outside the headquarters of his paper in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015 - Sputnik International
Man Down: Shots Fired at Opposition Journalist in Istanbul's Courthouse
Following the fourth hearing on the case on Friday, Dundar was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison and Gul for five years and six months over releasing secret documents, according to the Daily Sabah newspaper.

A separate verdict should be issued on charges of journalists' links to terrorist organizations, the newspaper said.

Earlier in the day, a gunman attempted to assassinate Dundar during a break at the hearing, but the journalist escaped unharmed, while the perpetrator was detained by Turkish police.

Turkey's crackdown on journalists and restrictions on freedom of speech was previously criticized by the international community, including the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, Russia and the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) organization.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала