Journalist and author was jailed after writing pieces critical of president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
A Turkish court has released the journalist and novelist Ahmet Altan after more than four years in prison on charges of involvement in a failed 2016 coup attempt, charges he had always denied.
The court of cassation ruling came a day after the European court of human rights (ECHR) demanded the 71-year-old’s freedom in a verdict that accused Turkey of violating his civil rights.
Related: Jailed Turkish writer Ahmet Altan: My words cannot be imprisoned
Very happy to hear #Turkey‘s Court of Cassation has just ordered the release of novelist #AhmetAltan after more than 4,5 years in jail! Will be even happier after seeing him enjoying fully his freedom and all charges dropped. Hope all other @ECHR_CEDH rulings will be applied too.
Continue reading…This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.