Turkish jourlists face terror trial

Ankara, July 24: Seventeen jourlists and magers at Turkish opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet were facing trial on Monday on charges of aiding a terrorist organisation, the media reported.
If found guilty this week, they could face sentences of up to 43 years in jail. Ten have already been in pre-trial detention for almost nine months, reports the BBC. At the Istanbul courthouse, a large crowd of supporters let off balloons and called for their release. One of the jourlists on trial is Turhan Guy, 71, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper’s book supplement. “I cannot touch him. I cannot hug him,” says his daughter, Elif, who is allowed to visit him once a week for an hour. (IANS)