Ahmet Altan released

* Photo: Figen Albuga Çalıkuşu / Twitter

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In the trial of journalist-writer Ahmet Altan and journalist Nazlı Ilıcak for "evoking a coup", the Court of Cassation has reversed the verdict and ruled for the release of Altan, considering the time he spent behind bars.

Shortly after this ruling was pronounced, Ahmet Altan was released from Silivri Prison at the outskirts of İstanbul in the evening today (April 14).

Speaking to Deutsche Welle Türkçe, Altan's attorney Figen Albuga Çalıkuşu has announced that her client has been released from prison.

Artı Gerçek news website has also reported that Altan has been sent to his house by taxi by the Silivri Prison administration due to the pandemic.

In a message on her Twitter account, Altan's attorney Figen Albuga Çalıkuşu has shared a picture of herself with Altan, attaching the note, "I have just greeted Ahmet Altan... First step to freedom..."

Ahmet Altan’ı biraz evvel karşıladım...

Özgürlüğe ilk adım... pic.twitter.com/QnF6Sp1WgE
— Figen AlbugaÇALIKUŞU (@FigenCalikusu) April 14, 2021

In the "attempted coup" lawsuit filed after the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, Ahmet Altan was sentenced to 10 years, 6 months in prison and Nazlı Ilıcak was sentenced to 8 years, 9 months in prison on charge of "willingly and knowingly aiding the terrorist organization."

Completing its examination on the appeals against this verdict, the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation has reversed the ruling against Altan and Ilıcak on the grounds that the sentence reduction foreseen in the Article 220/7 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) was not implemented. The court has ruled that Ahmet Altan shall be released.

ECtHR gave a ruling of right violation

In a ruling pronounced by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) yesterday, it was concluded that the following rights of Ahmet Altan were violated: The right to liberty and security as per the Articles 5/1 and 5/5 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR); the right to fair and speedy proceedings as per the Article 5/4 of the ECHR; and freedom of expression as per the Article 10 of the ECHR. The court also ruled that Altan should be paid 16,000 Euro in non-pecuniary damages.

Ahmet Altan's trial

Ahmet Altan was first detained on September 1, 2016, in an investigation into the failed coup attempt in July.

On September 23, 2016, he was remanded in custody for "being a member of an armed terrorist organization and attempting to overthrow the government of Turkey or to prevent it from fulfilling its duties."

He was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order" in February 2018 because of three of his articles published before the coup attempt.

The 2nd Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice (the appeals court) rejected Altan's appeals and ruled for the continuation of his imprisonment.

The 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation overturned the verdict in July 2019 and ruled that Altan should stand trial not for "attempted overthrow of the constitutional order" but "knowingly and willingly aiding a terrorist organization despite not being included in the hierarchical structure in the organization."

In line with the high court's decision, the İstanbul 26th Heavy Penal Court sentenced Altan to 10 years and 6 months for this crime on November 4, 2019. It ruled for his release considering the time he served in prison.

On November 6, 2019, the prosecutor's office appealed his release. After the court's rejection, the appeal was sent to the İstanbul 27th Heavy Penal Court, which accepted the request and ruled that Altan should be arrested again.

Altan was sent to prison again on November 13.

(EKN/SD)