Turkish court orders release of jailed Amnesty International chief
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 August 2018 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Turkish court orders release of jailed Amnesty International chief, 15 August 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5bc0529ba.html [accessed 4 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 15, 2018 20:41 GMT
Taner Kilic, the head of Amnesty International in Turkey (file photo)
A Turkish court has issued a ruling for the release from prison of Taner Kilic, the local head of Amnesty International, in one of several cases that have raised concerns about Turkey's human rights record.
"Great news: The Istanbul court has ruled for the release of Amnesty Turkey Honorary Chair Taner Kilic," Amnesty researcher Andrew Gardner said on Twitter after the August 15 decision. "Expecting his release by this evening. Celebrations will start then."
Kilic has been jailed in Turkey's western city of Izmir for more than a year on charges of supporting Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based cleric that Ankara blames for Turkey's failed July 2016 coup.
Gulen denies Turkey's allegations that he ordered his followers in Turkey to stage the attempted coup.
Earlier on August 15, a Turkish court rejected an appeal for the release from house arrest of U.S. Evangelical Christian pastor Andrew Brunson and for his travel ban to be lifted.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
