A Turkish court overturned higher court verdict and re-convicted journalists from Turkey's oldest newspaper.&nbsp;

The rights groups called the judgment against 12 former scribes from Cumhuriyet "scandalous". The verdict also reaffirms the crackdown on media freedom under the rule of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.&nbsp;

The journalists were convicted for their support through their work to organisations that Turkey recognize as terrorist groups and their role in the failed coup in 2016. They were given jail term ranging from two and a half years to more than eight years. However, the Supreme Court overturned the decision in September.&nbsp;

"Once again a Turkish court has defied the decision of the higher court. Once again, journalism is the victim in this case," said Emma Sinclair-Webb, of Human Rights Watch, after the verdict.&nbsp;

Turkey's Constitutional Court said in May that the verdict against two former scribes: Gursel and Murat Aksoy, violates the principles of freedom of speech and expression.&nbsp;

Responding on the judgment, Cumhuriyet's former lawyer Bulent Utku said that the case was "political from the beginning, and aimed at revenge."

Over the years, Turkish media was brought under the control of Erdogan's allies. The International Press Institute, a global watchdog, released a report on Tuesday which claimed that over 100 journalists are still being jailed in Turkey following the failed coup. The report also said that the situation of journalists have not improved in Turkey since the two-year emergency that was lifted last year.&nbsp;

Ankara says that the suspensions, detentions and sackings in 2016 were needed to safeguard national security, given that Turkey has faced attacks from Kurdish, Islamist and far-left militants. However, critics believe that Erdogan used failed coup as a pretext to clamp down on dissent and strengthen his authoritarian rule.&nbsp;

Cumhuriyet, founded in 1924, is one of Turkey's rare media organisations that is run by an independent foundation. Most of the media houses in Turkey are run by business tycoons.&nbsp;

In 2016, Cumhuriyet's editor-in-chief Can Dundar fled to Germany after being convicted in 2016 over an article claiming that Turkey had supplied weapons to Islamist groups in Syria.&nbsp;

Turkey is currently ranked 157 out of 180 countries for press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.

(with inputs from AFP and Reuters)

&nbsp;

A Turkish court overturned higher court verdict and re-convicted journalists from Turkey's oldest newspaper. The rights groups called the judgment against 12 former scribes from Cumhuriyet "scandalous".

A Turkish court overturned higher court verdict and re-convicted journalists from Turkey's oldest newspaper. The rights groups called the judgment against 12 former scribes from Cumhuriyet "scandalous". The verdict also reaffirms the crackdown on media freedom under the rule of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The journalists were convicted for their support through their work to organisations that Turkey recognize as terrorist groups and their role in the failed coup in 2016. They were given jail term ranging from two and a half years to more than eight years. However, the Supreme Court overturned the decision in September. "Once again a Turkish court has defied the decision of the higher court. Once again, journalism is the victim in this case," said Emma Sinclair-Webb, of Human Rights Watch, after the verdict. Turkey's Constitutional Court said in May that the verdict against two former scribes: Gursel and Murat Aksoy, violates the principles of freedom of speech and expression. Responding on the judgment, Cumhuriyet's former lawyer Bulent Utku said that the case was "political from the beginning, and aimed at revenge." Over the years, Turkish media was brought under the control of Erdogan's allies. The International Press Institute, a global watchdog, released a report on Tuesday which claimed that over 100 journalists are still being jailed in Turkey following the failed coup. The report also said that the situation of journalists have not improved in Turkey since the two-year emergency that was lifted last year. Ankara says that the suspensions, detentions and sackings in 2016 were needed to safeguard national security, given that Turkey has faced attacks from Kurdish, Islamist and far-left militants. However, critics believe that Erdogan used failed coup as a pretext to clamp down on dissent and strengthen his authoritarian rule. Cumhuriyet, founded in 1924, is one of Turkey's rare media organisations that is run by an independent foundation. Most of the media houses in Turkey are run by business tycoons. In 2016, Cumhuriyet's editor-in-chief Can Dundar fled to Germany after being convicted in 2016 over an article claiming that Turkey had supplied weapons to Islamist groups in Syria. Turkey is currently ranked 157 out of 180 countries for press freedom by Reporters Without Borders. (with inputs from AFP and Reuters)

Turkey: Former journalists re-convicted despite higher court ruling

A Turkish penal court ordered the release of a journalist jailed over alleged ties to a failed coup, the private broadcaster CNN Turk reported on Friday.

Sahin Alpay, a journalist in the now defunct Zaman daily, is to be released under judicial control and confinement to his house, CNN Turk said.&nbsp;

Turkey&#39;s Constitutional Court had ruled earlier on Friday for a second time that the rights of Alpay had been violated while in custody and had requested his release.

Alpay, who has been in jail for more than a year, was accused of links to terrorist groups and attempting to overthrow the government in a July 2016 coup that killed more than 240 people. He denies the charges.

Authorities have shut about 130 media outlets since the failed coup. The Turkish Journalists` Association says about 160 journalists are in jail, most held since the putsch.

In January, Turkish penal courts decided to keep two jailed journalists including Alpay in detention hours after the constitutional court had requested they be released because their rights had been violated while in custody.

Sahin Alpay, a journalist in the now-defunct Zaman daily, is to be released under judicial control and confinement to his house

A Turkish penal court ordered the release of a journalist jailed over alleged ties to a failed coup, the private broadcaster CNN Turk reported on Friday. Sahin Alpay, a journalist in the now defunct Zaman daily, is to be released under judicial control and confinement to his house, CNN Turk said. Turkey's Constitutional Court had ruled earlier on Friday for a second time that the rights of Alpay had been violated while in custody and had requested his release. Alpay, who has been in jail for more than a year, was accused of links to terrorist groups and attempting to overthrow the government in a July 2016 coup that killed more than 240 people. He denies the charges. Authorities have shut about 130 media outlets since the failed coup. The Turkish Journalists` Association says about 160 journalists are in jail, most held since the putsch. In January, Turkish penal courts decided to keep two jailed journalists including Alpay in detention hours after the constitutional court had requested they be released because their rights had been violated while in custody.

Turkish court rules to release jailed journalist Sahin Alpay: Report

Turkish authorities issued warrants for the detention of 47 journalists on Wednesday, broadcaster CNN Turk said, the latest step in a widening crackdown following a failed military coup. 
 
Police were set to detain the journalists as part of an investigation into US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of masterminding the July coup attempt in which at least 246 people were killed, CNN Turk said. 
 
The journalists worked for the Gulen-linked Zaman newspaper, which was seized by Turkish authorities in March as part of a clampdown on the preacher&#39;s supporters. 
 
Gulen, an ally-turned-foe of President Tayyip Erdogan who had built up an extensive network of schools, charities and businesses in Turkey over decades, has condemned the coup attempt and denies any involvement in it. 
 
Police raided the home of one of the journalists, Sahin Alpay, around 6am (0300 GMT) on Wednesday and detained him after a over two-hour hour search of the property in a central Istanbul district, the Dogan news agency reported. 
 
Since the failed coup Turkish authorities have suspended, detained or placed under investigation more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others. 
 
On Monday media reported that Turkey had issued arrest warrants for the detention of 42 journalists, including well-known commentator and former parliamentarian Nazli Ilicak. 
 
(Reuters)

The journalists worked for Zaman newspaper which is linked to US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused of masterminding the coup

Turkish authorities issued warrants for the detention of 47 journalists on Wednesday, broadcaster CNN Turk said, the latest step in a widening crackdown following a failed military coup. Police were set to detain the journalists as part of an investigation into US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of masterminding the July coup attempt in which at least 246 people were killed, CNN Turk said. The journalists worked for the Gulen-linked Zaman newspaper, which was seized by Turkish authorities in March as part of a clampdown on the preacher's supporters. Gulen, an ally-turned-foe of President Tayyip Erdogan who had built up an extensive network of schools, charities and businesses in Turkey over decades, has condemned the coup attempt and denies any involvement in it. Police raided the home of one of the journalists, Sahin Alpay, around 6am (0300 GMT) on Wednesday and detained him after a over two-hour hour search of the property in a central Istanbul district, the Dogan news agency reported. Since the failed coup Turkish authorities have suspended, detained or placed under investigation more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others. On Monday media reported that Turkey had issued arrest warrants for the detention of 42 journalists, including well-known commentator and former parliamentarian Nazli Ilicak. (Reuters)

Turkey issues detention warrants against 47 journalists: Media