Istanbul court issues red notice for journalists Dündar, Tanır

ISTANBUL

The 27th High Criminal Court in Istanbul on Oct. 16 issued a red notice for journalists Can Dündar and İlhan Tanır on espionage charges, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Since both Dündar, daily Cumhuriyet’s former editor-in-chief, and Tanır failed to appear before the court on Oct. 16 for their hearing, a public prosecutor requested the issuance of an international red notice for the fugitives, the agency said. Dündar has been living in Germany since June 2016, whereas Tanır, a Cumhuriyet journalist, is based in Washington D.C.

Upon the prosecutor’s request, the court ruled the issuance of a red notice on the grounds that statements could not be taken from the defendants and adjourned the hearing.

In May 2016, the 14th High Criminal Court in Istanbul had convicted Dündar following the publication of images purporting to show arms being transported to Syria in trucks belonging to Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT).

Dündar was arrested late November 2015 and held in prison until Feb. 26, 2016 when Turkey’s Constitutional Court ruled that his rights had been violated and ordered his release.

Turkey’s Supreme Court of Appeals ruled on March 9 that Dündar should be convicted and handed a sentence of 15 to 20 years in jail on charges of “espionage.”