International
TURKEY: 6 journalists bag life sentences over failed coup attempt
Authorities in Turkey have continued their clampdown on those perceived to be behind the failed coup which happened two years ago after a court sentenced six journalists to life in prison over the attempt to overthrow government.
According to an unnamed judicial source; “The six journalists were sentenced to aggravated life sentences for attempting to overthrow the constitutional order”.
Reports say the convicts were accused of having links to a movement headed by exiled Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, regarded by authorities to be behind the failed coup.
Read also: TURKEY: 40 sentenced to life in prison for attempting to assassinate Erdogan
The journalists who bagged life sentences include; Ahmet Altan, the former editor-in-chief of Taraf newspaper, his brother, journalist and academic Mehmet Altan, and prominent Turkish journalist Nazli Ilicak.
Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu reporting from Istanbul said; “Aggravated life sentence means if the prisoners are granted immunity by any other future government or any other judiciary, these people cannot benefit from that”.
Since the failed coup attempt in July 2016, Turkey has arrested or sacked tens of thousands of people from state institutions with many accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government of using the failed coup as a pretext to silence opposition in the country and tighten its grip on power.
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