Arrested Turkish campaigners face up to 14 years in jail

ISTANBUL

Three campaigners who were arrested on charges of making terror propaganda for taking part in the “Editor-in-chief on Duty” campaign for daily Özgür Gündem, face up to 14 years in prison, as the public prosecutor’s office has completed an indictment against them.

The indictment prepared by terror and organized crimes prosecutor Eşref Durmuş demanded jail terms from two years up to 14 years and six months for Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) head Şebnem Korur Fincancı, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Turkey representative Erol Önderoğlu and journalist Ahmet Nesin.

The trio was accused of overtly inciting crime, praising crime and making terror organization propaganda.

The indictments were sent to courts of serious crimes on June 22.

The campaigners will face trial in the upcoming days if the indictment is accepted.

The trio were arrested on June 20 after supporting a campaign in solidarity with Turkish daily Özgür Gündem, which was started on May 3, World Press Freedom Day.