The European Federation of Journalists has welcomed the release of four journalists, Tuncay Özkan, Merdan Yanardağ, Yalçın Küçük and Hikmet Çiçek who were accused of committing terrorist acts in the Ergenekon case.
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) – an affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists – has today [11 March 2014] confirmed the release of three more journalists in the Ergenekon trial following the release of Tuncay Özkan yesterday [10 March 2014].
The EFJ has welcomed the release of four journalists, Tuncay Özkan, Merdan Yanardağ, Yalçın Küçük and Hikmet Çiçek who were accused of committing terrorist acts in the Ergenekon case.
Upon his release, Özkan thanked the EFJ and its affiliates for their tireless campaigning for the freedom of journalists in prison. Özkan and the three journalists released yesterday evening have united with their family (see picture of Özkan and his daughter).
The releases were made possible due to the change in the country’s anti-terrorism laws, which reduced the maximum pre-trial detention period from 10 years to five years.
At present, fifty-two journalists are still in jail. With the change in the law, it is expected that more journalists will be released.