Seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence, but Turkish journalist does not stop against Erdogan

A Turkish court has convicted reporters from the opposition daily Cumhuriyet that it was helping illegal organisations familiar terrorism, but editors vowed that their honest journalism would not be stopped, reports Guardian, Periskopi attended.

This paper has been too tough on President Recep Tayip Erdogan and has made articles that have angered the head of the Turkish state.

A court in Silivri, outside Istanbul, handed out numerous sentences for 13 journalists and directors that they were assisting and promoting terrorist organisations even without being members of them”.

No sentence can stop us from making journalism. If necessary, we will go to prison again but continue to make good and honest journalists,” said Murat Sabuncu after being sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

He said the sentence was handed not only to him, but to all Turkey and press freedom in this country.

Among the convicts were several well-known names of Turkish journalism, including investigative rapporteur Ahmet Sik, who is seen as one of the biggest critics of Gulen's movement. /Periscopi