ISTANBUL-Journalist İnan Kızılkaya and Kemal Sancılı, who were in prison for 441 days in the Özgür Gündem case, have been released from prison.

 

The fifth hearing for the case against Özgür Gündem, a newspaper shut down by an emergency decree (KHK), was held by the 23rd High Criminal Court at Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan. Journalist İnan Kızılkaya and Kemal Sancılı, Necmiye Alpay, Eren Keskin and lawyers were present at the hearing. Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP Erdal Ataş, the Republican People's Party (CHP) MPs Sezgin Tanrıkulu and Hilmi Yarayıcı, Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) Secretary General Gökhan Durmuş, Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) Press Union Chairperson Faruk Eren, many journalists and citizens followed the hearing.

 

After the defense depositions, the prosecutor cited the previous decrees and demanded the continuation of arrest for İnan and Kemal. The court has released İnan Kızılkaya and Kemal Sancılı from prison pending the hearing and postponed the hearing to March 6, 2018.