Turkish court sentences 15 Cumhuriyet newspaper staff on terrorism charges

Ankara, April 26: A Turkish court has sentenced 15 employees of the opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet to prison on terrorism charges and acquitted three, in a case that has sparked global outrage over press freedom under Tayyip Erdogan.

According to state media, the court also ruled that the case against the prominent journalist Can Dundar, previously the newspaper's editor-in-chief, will continue separately.

Turkish authorities have accused Cumhuriyet's staff of supporting groups it has labeled terror organizations, including the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), ultra-left Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front, and the cleric Fetullah Gulen, who Ankara accuses of masterminding the failed coup.

The Cumhuriyet reported the sentences for those convicted yesterday by the Istanbul-based court ranged from two-and-a-half years to seven-and-a-half years. The judge ordered the release of Cumhuriyet chairman Akın Atalay who had been in jail for over 500 days despite his conviction.

Among them are renowned journalists, including investigative reporter Ahmet Sik, who was sentenced to seven years and six months. Journalist and columnist Kadri Gursel was sentenced to 30 months.

The case is one of several high-profile trials seen as emblematic of the broader crackdown since Erdogan announced a state of emergency following the attempted coup.