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Turkey seeks long jail terms, life sentences in pro-Kurdish daily trial: Media reports

Iran Press TV

Thu Nov 10, 2016 5:15PM

Turkish prosecutors are seeking long jail terms or life sentences for nine staff of a now closed pro-Kurdish newspaper on charges of belonging to a terrorist group.

According to Turkish media reports, the staff, including prize-winning novelist Asli Erdogan, also face charges of harming national unity.

"In the indictment...life imprisonment and jail sentences of up 17-1/2 years were sought for the nine suspects," state-run news agency Anadolu said.

The nine suspects are prominent writers and executives from Ozgur Gundem newspaper, the report added.

Erdogan has been a member of the paper's advisory board. She was jailed pending trial in mid-August, after Turkish security forces detained her and two dozen more staff from the newspaper.

Most of the workers were detained during a raid on the Ozgur Gundem headquarters in Istanbul, according to the Turkish Journalists' Association.

This came after a court in Istanbul ordered the temporary closure of the pro-Kurdish daily, accusing it of spreading terrorist propaganda and "acting as the de facto news outlet" for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

More than 130 media outlets have been shut down since the July 15 abortive coup.

Ozgur Gundem has been the subject of court closures and raids in the past.

The paper has faced dozens of investigations, fines and arrest of correspondents since 2014.

Human Rights Foundation (HRF), a non-profit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, says Turkish journalists face "constant threats and retribution for their work, and are often harassed and prosecuted under criminal laws designed to stifle government criticism."

Southeastern Turkey has been the scene of deadly fighting between Kurdish militants and the army over the past months. The fighting escalated after Turkey declared the collapse of years-long peace negotiations with the Kurds last year and began imposing restrictions in Kurdish-dominated areas.

Ankara has also intensified attacks on alleged PKK positions in Iraq and Syria. The PKK has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks in major Turkish cities over the past months.