Jailed Turkish author Ahmet Altan freed after three years

Jailed Turkish author Ahmet Altan freed after three years

Nov 06 2019

The jailed Turkish author Ahmet Altan, whose detention was condemned by 38 Nobel laureates, has been released from prison after more than three years behind bars.

The 69-year-old was arrested in 2016 with his brother, the economist and journalist Mehmet Altan, on allegations of spreading “subliminal messages announcing a military coup” on television. Alongside journalist Nazli Ilicak, the Altan brothers were charged with attempting to overthrow constitutional order, interfering with the work of the national assembly and the government.

All three received life sentences in 2018, though Mehmet was released after four months, pending his appeal.

Altan and Ilicak were subsequently retried on terrorism charges, and convicted. However, the court ruled on Monday to immediately release the two writers based on the time they had already served. Mehmet was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

“While PEN could not be happier that Altan and Ilicak get to go home to their loved ones - in today’s Turkey this is good news - we mustn’t forget the sham trial and trumped-up charges they and countless other have been subjected to, simply for their critical or dissenting views,” said Sahar Halaimzai, PEN International campaigns and communications manager. “It’s time for the courts to turn their attention to the many others still detained for simply exercising their free expression rights.”

Update 11/14/2019: Ahmet Altan was rearrested Tuesday. The Guardian reported that an arrest warrant was issued "after the chief public prosecutor appealed against the decision to release Altan."

More News Stories