P24 Platform for Independent Journalism

Originally held on allegations of “military espionage,” Yıldız was jailed on charges of “disclosing confidential information relating to the political interests or security of the state”.

“While we welcome any measures taken to alleviate overcrowding in Turkey’s prisons, the new measures unjustifiably exclude tens of thousands who are imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of their rights.”

Amendments that ostensibly aim to protect prisoners from COVID-19 by reducing the prison population do not cover those detained on terrorism-related charges. Journalists, politicians and rights defenders who are in pre-trial detention, or who have been sentenced, will remain behind bars.

At the fourth hearing of Osman Kavala’s trial, his lawyer pointed to the recent ECtHR ruling that his client should be released immediately. However, the 30th High Criminal Court of Istanbul ruled to continue Kavala’s detention.

Although the convictions of “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order” were overturned, the Court said that Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak should still face the lesser charge of “aiding a terrorist organisation without being its member.”

All language versions of the Wikipedia website have been banned since April 2017. The Turkish authorities say they imposed the ban after Wikipedia refused to remove an article alleging Turkish government support for terrorist groups in Syria.

An Istanbul court has convicted Pelin Ünker of “libel” and “insult” in a case filed by lawyers representing Parliament Speaker and former PM Binali Yıldırım and his sons.

Mustafa Kara, Gökhan Çetin and İsmail Gökhan Bayram from the shuttered TV station Hayatın Sesi were each handed jail sentences of three years and nine months for “continuously spreading propaganda for a terrorist organisation”.