Arrested journalists Ahmet Sik and Nedim Sener and columnists Sait Cakir and Coskun Musluk, who were under arrest for more than a year, were released by the Istanbul 16th High Criminal Court in an ongoing case today (March 12th). Nine more suspects in the case remain behind bars.
The court had previously ruled against the release of prominent Şener and Şık, who have both remained behind bars since their arrest in March 2011 in connection with their alleged links to the Ergenekon clique. 'To silence journalists is to silence the people. It is journalism that is on trial here, and the principle of confidentiality of the news source that is being stamped out,' Sik said in court.
The next hearing of the Oda TV trial is scheduled for June 18. To read more about this on Hurriyet Daily News click here and here.
For a detailed account of the defendants' speeches of defense at the hearing please visit Bianet.
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released a statement expressing their relief and content about the releases but highlighted their concern "about the continued imprisonment of dozens of journalists and media workers in Turkey who are languishing in jail pending trial". Read the rest of the CPJ's statement here.
The court had previously ruled against the release of prominent Şener and Şık, who have both remained behind bars since their arrest in March 2011 in connection with their alleged links to the Ergenekon clique. 'To silence journalists is to silence the people. It is journalism that is on trial here, and the principle of confidentiality of the news source that is being stamped out,' Sik said in court.
The next hearing of the Oda TV trial is scheduled for June 18. To read more about this on Hurriyet Daily News click here and here.
For a detailed account of the defendants' speeches of defense at the hearing please visit Bianet.
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released a statement expressing their relief and content about the releases but highlighted their concern "about the continued imprisonment of dozens of journalists and media workers in Turkey who are languishing in jail pending trial". Read the rest of the CPJ's statement here.
