Life sentences demanded for the writers and executives of Özgür Gündem

The investigation against the writers and executives of Özgür Gündem, which was shut down upon an emergence decree, is completed. 

Kemal Sancılı, Aslı Erdoğan, İnan Kızılkaya, Zana Bilir Kaya, Ayşe Necmiye Alpay, Emire Eren Keskin, Filiz Koçali, Ragıp Zarakolu and Bilge Akut are included as suspects in the indictment issued by the prosecution.

Editorial consultants novelist Aslı Erdoğan and linguist Necmiye Alpay, editor-in-chief Zana Kaya and executive editor İnan Kızılkaya have been arrested.

The prosecution seeks aggravated life sentences and imprisonment up to 17,5 for 9 suspects on the charges of “being a member of an armed terrorist organization”, “harming the national unity” and “making propaganda for a terrorist organization”.

The indictment has been sent to Istanbul High Penal Court. It is expected that the court will either approve or reject the indictment within 15 days.