Court reverses its decision to free head of Turkish Amnesty

A TURKISH court yesterday overturned its decision to free the chairman of the local arm of Amnesty International, the human rights group said.

An Istanbul court on Wednesday ordered the conditional release of Taner Kılıç, who has been in prison since June on terrorism charges.

Prosecutors claim he downloaded Bylock, an encrypted messaging app that was allegedly used by followers of a Muslim cleric whom Turkey blames for a 2016 coup attempt.

Mr Kılıç, whose case attracted global attention and is seen by some as representative of a crackdown under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish president, was due to be released from prison while the trial against him and 10 other human rights activists on terrorism-related charges continues. All 11 defendants deny the charges against them.

The Istanbul court yesterday reversed its decision after an appeal by a prosecutor, Amnesty said.

“To have been granted release only to have the door to freedom so callously

‘To have ... the door to freedom so callously slammed in his face is devastating’

slammed in his face is devastating for Taner, his family and all who stand for justice in Turkey,” said Salil Shetty, the Amnesty secretary general.

The case against the activists, who face up to 15 years in prison if convicted, has become a flashpoint in Turkey’s tense relations with Europe and heightened fears that an important Nato member is sliding towards authoritarianism.