Turkish court releases three journalists on trial for revealing state secrets
Journalists stood trial Wednesday for reporting on the funeral of a Turkish intelligence officer killed in Libya in a court case condemned by press freedom advocates.
ISTANBUL — Court proceedings began Wednesday for seven Turkish journalists accused of revealing state secrets in their coverage of a Turkish intelligence officer killed in Libya earlier this year.
The journalists face eight to 19 years in prison for allegedly violating laws on the disclosure of information relating to state security or intelligence operations in a high-profile case condemned by press freedom advocates, who have called on prosecutors to drop all charges.
Those standing trial include Huyla Kilinc, Baris Pehlivan and Baris Terkoglu of the ultranationalist news site Odatv, Ferhat Celik and Aydin Keser of the pro-Kurdish Yeni Yasam newspaper and Murat Agirel of the nationalist Yenicag newspaper. Agirel along with Erk Acarer of the socialist Birgun newspaper is accused of revealing the intelligence officer’s identity, though Acarer is in Germany and being tried in absentia.
After a lengthy trial, the court ruled to release Terkoglu, Keser and Celik from prison, while the remaining three defendants will stay in jail pending trial. All six journalist will continue court proceedings with the next hearing scheduled for Sept. 9.
