Turkey’s Constitutional Court makes a landmark decision to free imprisoned journalists

Turkey’s Constitutional Court made a decision last week which led to freeing of two imprisoned journalists by another court.

Two journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül were in prison for 92 days based on charges for having committed the crime of espionage against Turkey by running a news story saying the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT) shipped weapons to some jihadist groups in Syria.

Erdoğan (the Turkish President) condemned the story published by Cumhuriyet daily as “espionage” and “treason,” followed by a like-minded court agreeing to it obviously as they did not hesitate to put two journalists in jail – denying them

the right to stand trial without arrest.

As a bottom line the Turkey’s Constitutional Court made a decision last week ruling the rights of said two journalists were violated by putting and keeping them in prison before a decision made by court ruling these journalist had indeed committed referred crimes.

This decision was mostly welcome by many opinion leaders in Turkey as well as many voices from the ruling Ak Party front who believed the court had substantially contributed to the reputation of the legal system in Turkey which many believe has been severely damaged during the recent years.

Editor