Skip to main content

Turkish court releases students jailed on ‘terror propaganda’ charges

The trial of 22 Turkish students opened today with their release, though they still face terror charges for participating in a protest against Turkey's military incursion in Syria.
People demonstrate outside the Caglayan courthouse on June 6, 2018 in Istanbul with banners reading "Freedom for Bogazici" as a trial opens today of 21 students from Bogazici University described by Turkey's President as "terrorists" after they opposed the Turkish military operation in Syria launched in January 2018. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)        (Photo credit should read YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images)

The remaining 14 students from Istanbul’s liberal Bogazici University who were charged with spreading “terror propaganda” for protesting Turkey’s military offensive against the Syrian Kurdish enclave Afrin were freed pending trial by the judge in their first courtroom hearing today.

The youths were detained and arrested after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called them “terrorists in the guise of students.”

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.