Turkey grants bail to legislator accused of publishing illegal wiretaps
Eren Erdem denies charges of assisting followers of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of orchestrating a failed 2016 putsch
Ankara — On Monday, a Turkish court ordered the release on bail of a former opposition legislator while he is being tried on terrorism-related charges, state-owned Anadolu news agency said. Eren Erdem, who lost his seat in mid-2018 elections that granted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers, has been jailed since June and accused of publishing illegal wiretaps while editor of an opposition newspaper in 2014. He denies charges of assisting followers of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of orchestrating a failed 2016 putsch. Prosecutors sought a sentence of up to 19 years for Erdem over "membership of an armed organisation" and aiding terrorists, Anadolu said. However, the court ruled on Monday that he should be released on bail. He is the second politician from the secularist Republican People's Party (CHP) to be taken in a sweeping crackdown that has seen more than 70,000 people imprisoned, sparking outrage from rights groups and some of Turkey's Western ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.