Two FETÖ suspects released in Zaman daily case

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

An Istanbul court on May 11 released two former columnists from a shuttered daily linked to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup, a judicial official said. 

Istanbul’s 13rd Heavy Penal Court ruled the release of Ali Bulaç and Mehmet Özdemir, former columnists for Zaman newspaper, under judicial control and also ordered a travel ban for each. 

The case tries 11 suspects, 4 of whom are in jail pending trial. 

Among those in custody are İbrahim Karayeğen, Mümtazer Türköne, Ahmet Turan Alkan ve Mustafa Ünal. 

The court decided to hold the next hearings of the trial on June 7, 8. 

Early in April, the chief public prosecutor urged the court to slap the suspects with jail term from seven to fifteen years over the charges of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, membership in armed terror group and helping a terrorist organization. 

FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured.