Acquittal demanded for 357 in military espionage
İZMİR
The acquittal of 357 defendants, including senior Turkish soldiers actively on duty, who faced the charge of “membership of an armed organization” in a case about military espionage has been demanded, the state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.The case was filed in the Aegean province of İzmir in 2012 and involved the trial of 357 people, including soldiers, accused of possessing secret military information and documents. The defendants were released but the case continues.
“This is what we’ve long been wishing for,” Anadolu Agency quoted former military colonel Coşkun Başbuğ when speaking outside a courthouse in İzmir as a hearing of the case was ongoing, adding that the evidence stated in the indictment of the case were fabricated by the followers of U.S.-based Muslim scholar Fethullah Gülen working as insiders in police and military institutions in Turkey.
Gülen is accused by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of forming and heading a terrorist organization to topple the Turkish government through moles in the police department and other state institutions.
