Turkish court rules opposition newspaper journalists must remain in custody

SILIVRI,Turkey: ATurkishcourt remanded five prominent staff from the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper in custody on Monday in a trial which President Tayyip Erdogan’s critics have condemned as an attack on free speech.

The court said the newspaper correspondents and executives, some of whom have already been detained for 10 months, should remain in detention until more evidence was presented.

“The court has decided to keep the arrested until witnesses are heard,” chief judge Abdurrahman Orkun Dag said after a 13-hour session, adjourning the case for two weeks.

“After hearing the witnesses, we think a more healthy decision could be reached.”

Prosecutors say Cumhuriyet was effectively taken over by supporters of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric blamed by the government for last year’s failed coup attempt, and that the paper was used to target Erdogan and “veil the actions of terrorist groups.”

The newspaper has denied the charges and a defence attorney said on Monday that the court was ignoring evidence being put forward.

“As this is a political trial, material evidence is not taken into account,” said Tora Pekin.

The court remanded in custody editor in chief Murat Sabuncu, executive committee member and attorney Akin Atalay and three other staff.

The rest of the 17 defendants are either free until the next hearing or are being tried in absentia. — Reuters