TEHRAN,Young Journalists Club (YJC) -A Turkish court has sentenced six journalists to life in prison over accusation of involvement in the country's 2016 failed coup.
'Unprecedented assault on freedom of expression'
The verdict drew fierce criticism from international organizations and rights groups, including the UN, which urged Turkey to reverse the ruling.
”These harsh sentences are an unacceptable and unprecedented assault on freedom of expression and on the media in Turkey,” the UN human rights office said in a statement.
During the botched putsch in July 2016, a faction of the Turkish military declared that it had seized control of the country and the government of Erdogan was no more in charge. The attempt was, however, suppressed a few hours later.
Turkey, which remains in a state of emergency since the coup, has been engaged in suppressing the media and opposition groups suspected to have played a role in the failed coup.
Tens of thousands of people have been arrested in Turkey on suspicion of having links to Gulen and the failed coup. Nearly 150,000 others, including military staff, civil servants and journalists, have been sacked or suspended from work over the same accusations.
The international community and rights groups have been highly critical of the Turkish president over the massive dismissals and the crackdown.
Source:Press TV