Turkey frees journalists accused of terrorism

A top court in Turkey ruled that the detention of two journalists from an opposition newspaper was a violation of rights paving the way for their freedom on Friday.

The two journalists who spent 92 days in prison for reporting on alleged arms shipment to Syria were freed from the Silivri prison after the court ruling.

Can Dundar, editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet, and Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul published a video footage purporting to show the state intelligence agency helping send weapons to Syria.

The arrest of both journalists sparked international condemnation and reports say despite their release, Dundar and Gul face possible life sentences at a trial on espionage and terrorism charges starting on March 25.

Read also: Group calls for release of Syrian journalist detained by Turkey

An advocacy group also called for the charges against them, which carry a life sentence, to be dropped.

Families and friends of the detained journalists gathered outside the Silivri prison to greet them after their release on Friday.

“We personally believed that this lawsuit was opened to intimidate people,” Can Dundar’s wife, Dilek Dundar, told Reuters news agency. “Hopefully there are better days ahead of Turkey. I hope that journalists will be able to do their jobs better from now on.” She added.

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