Three Turkish activists face jail terms of up to 14 years: Report
Turkish prosecutors have demanded that three prominent press freedom campaigners be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison on charges of disseminating alleged terror propaganda by guest-editing a pro-Kurdish newspaper, a report says.
Turkey's private Dogan news agency reported on Wednesday that Istanbul prosecutors have asked for the three to be handed down jail terms from a minimum of two years up to a maximum of 14.5 years each.
On Monday, Turkish authorities arrested journalist Ahmet Nesin, rights activist and academic Sebnem Korur Fincanci, and Erol Onderoglu, journalist and the Turkey representative for international rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The trio were charged with "terrorist propaganda" and remanded in custody.
They had all taken part in a solidarity campaign in support of the pro-Kurdish Turkish daily, Ozgur Gundem, which is subject to multiple investigations and lawsuits. The campaign involved participants guest-editing the newspaper on a daily basis.
European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn released a statement on Monday, saying the activists’ arrests run counter to “Turkey's commitment to respect fundamental rights, including freedom of media.”
They further noted that Turkey, as a candidate for the EU membership “must aspire to the highest possible democratic standards and practices.”
In a message from jail, Fincanci said the detention “is an indication that we have done something good. It is an honor to be arrested by the state in Turkey."
In another message, Onderoglu noted that he could not remember a period with such a crackdown when "legal intimidation has become this visible."
RSF also emphasized, in a statement, that the jailing of Onderoglu is "clearly sending a message to all Turkish journalists and human rights defenders, a message that says no one is safe from persecution."
The Turkish government has been under fire for clamping down on journalists and sentencing them to long prison terms.
Nearly 2,000 people, including ordinary citizens, students, cartoonists and journalists, have been prosecuted for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since he was elected to the post in August 2014.
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