Mehmet Altan

An Istanbul prosecutor demanded aggravated life sentences for journalists Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak on Dec. 11 in the case into the “media arm” of the Fetullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ), believed to have been behind the July 2016 coup attempt.

An Istanbul judge ordered the lawyers of journalists Ahmet Altan and Mehmet Altan to leave the courtroom during a hearing on Nov. 13 in a case into seven suspects, including veteran journalist Nazlı Ilıcak along with the two brothers, trialed over alleged links to Fethullah Gülen.

The 26th Istanbul Criminal Court on Sept. 19 rejected demands to release a group of journalists and writers who have been in jail for more than a year, in a case into the "media leg" of the Gülen network.

A Turkish court ordered on Sept. 19 the continuation of arrest for all journalists, including Nazlı Ilıcak, Ahmet Altan and Mehmet Altan, after a second hearing in the case into the alleged "media leg" of what prosecutors call the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ). The trial was postponed to Nov. 13.

The arrest of journalists is quite a big problem in democratic societies since it is a violation against society's right to demand news. Therefore, our country is viewed by the international community as quite troubled.

So, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) accepted applications from journalists and asked for a defense from the Justice Ministry.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks has reportedly intervened in the cases against jailed Turkish journalists, to which the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has agreed to give priority and demanded Turkey's defense.

An Istanbul court ruled on June 23 to remand in custody all "media leg" suspects - including journalists Nazlı Ilıcak and Mehmet Altan and novelist Ahmat Altan - on trial in over alleged links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), widely believed to have been behind the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Jailed journalist and former economics professor Mehmet Altan denied allegations against him in a court hearing on June 21 in the case into the alleged "media leg" of what prosecutors call the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), believed to be behind the July 15, 2016, coup attempt. 

Turkey faces increasingly difficult times, and matters are set to get worse before they get better. This is not scaremongering but an assessment based on objective events - based on what is taking place in this deeply and dangerously divided country. 

Seventeen suspects, including jailed journalists Nazlı Ilıcak, Ahmet Altan and Mehmet Altan, for the first time appeared before court in Istanbul on June 19, in a case into the alleged "media leg" of what prosecutors call the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), believed to be behind the July 15, 2016 coup attempt.