Turkey releases dissident journalist Ahmet Altan after ECHR ruling

The Turkish judiciary on Wednesday released journalist and writer Ahmet Altan, imprisoned for his alleged involvement in the failed coup attempt in 2016. The ruling by Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals follows a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which recognised the violation of the journalist's fundamental rights. 

Journalist Ahmet Altan, 71, was arrested in September 2016 along with his brother, economist Mehmet Altan, and fellow journalist Nazlı Ilıcak. The authorities charged the three with cooperation with a terrorist organisation, and for their alleged links to the group that organised the failed coup that same year. At the beginning of the case, Altan was sentenced to life imprisonment, however, the Turkish judiciary overturned the verdict after four months pending appeal.

Ahmet Altan, former editor-in-chief of the liberal daily Taraf, and Ilıcak, former presenter of Can Erzincan TV, a media outlet linked to the alleged instigator of the 2016 coup, Fethullah Gülen, were imprisoned for broadcasting subliminal messages in favour of the coup attempt during a television broadcast. Altan was also imprisoned for publishing anti-government articles and for criticising President Erdogan. However, the journalist has consistently denied the charges against him and denounced political pressure.

Altan has been in prison for more than 4 years and 9 months. Although he was momentarily released in November 2019, he was arrested for a second time and charged with new terrorism charges. The journalist's lawyer, Figen Çalıkuşu, has acknowledged the reaction of the European Court of Human Rights, although he was also critical: "He should have been released a long time ago, and that's why I say the court was late."

Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals justified the ruling after admitting that the journalist has served his full sentence. The journalist's lawyer, Figen Çalıkuşu, said that the Supreme Court "annulled several court sentences that had been passed against my client, one of which was a prison sentence of 10 years and 6 months". 

The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that "there was no evidence that the applicant's [Ahmet Altan] actions were part of a plan to overthrow the government". The ECtHR therefore ruled that Turkey had violated the journalist's fundamental rights. In doing so, the court itself ordered the Ottoman authorities to pay 16,000 euros to Altan as compensation for the wrongs committed against him.

Ahmet Altan has been released from Silivri prison in Istanbul province, according to Anadolu Agency. However, despite his release, Altan has not been acquitted of all charges against him. For this reason, he is banned from leaving the country. It has also emerged that the journalist is suffering from cancer, and the authorities declined to release him despite the spread of the pandemic in Turkey.

"Although Ahmet Altan should not have spent a single day behind bars, we welcome the news that he is finally free," said Gulnoza Said, Europe and Central Asia programme coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). "All journalists imprisoned for their work in Turkey must be released immediately." 

The release of the journalist marks the first decision by the Turkish judiciary in line with ECHR rulings. In addition, the European Court of Human Rights has called for the release of the former leaders of the pro-Kurdish Democratic People's Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtaş and Vigan Yuksekdag, who have been imprisoned for more than four years.

Turkey has suffered a clear democratic regression, driven by President Erdogan since the 2016 coup d'état. The international community accuses the Turkish government of repressing the political opposition on the basis of terrorism charges, referring to its links with the PKK or dissidents, as well as arbitrary arrests. Erdogan has also curbed freedom of expression through restrictions on the media.