Turkish journalist Turan released in Egypt

CAIRO

Metin Turan (L) arrives at the Turkish Embassy in Cairo after being released from prison on Dec 9. AA photo

Turkish journalist Metin Turan has been released from an Egyptian prison, nearly four months after he was arrested on Aug. 17 during protests at Cairo’s el-Fath Mosque.

Turan thanked the Turkish government for the support it had given him since his arrest. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Turan praised government officials for “pursuing the case from the beginning until [my] release.”

His lawyers said Turan was released unconditionally by the Egyptian authorities. He was freed after a court ordered his release – along with 83 other defendants – pending investigation into deadly August clashes in Cairo’s Ramses Square.

Clashes had erupted on Aug. 16 outside the square between security forces and protesters angered at the killing of hundreds of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi. In the ensuing violence, over 50 people were killed and 270 injured, according to the Egyptian Health Ministry.

Dozens of protesters had taken refuge inside the nearby el-Fath Mosque, where they remained holed up before finally being rounded up by security forces. Defendants in the case, including Turan, who works for Turkish state broadcaster TRT, face charges of “incitement to violence” and “resisting authorities,” but Turan said he was only in Ramses Square to cover the clashes.

“I went to do a news report and ended up becoming the subject of reports myself,” he said.