Journalists released after 375 days behind bars

Four journalists, who had been in prison for 375 days within the on-going Oda TV and Ergenekon investigations, were released by a court in Istanbul yesterday. Since their initial detention in March last year, Ahmet Sik and Nedim Sener, both investigative journalists, had become the best known of more than 100 journalists held behind bars in the country. The court announced yesterday that the two men, along with their colleagues Sait Cakir and Coskun Musluk would no longer be detained at Turkey's maximum security Silivri jail, because of the "the probability of the crime's qualification being subject to change," and "the time suspects spent under arrest". Akin Atalay, attorney for Ahmet Sik, said the decision to arrest his client was meaningless and the court's decision was a good sign for the future of the free expression in Turkey. The case has sparked international concern about freedom of expression in Turkey. Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc welcomed the release of the journalists as a "positive development" without directly commenting on the ruling. "One can only be glad at their release. It is saddening that they have spent 375 days inside," Arinc told a news conference yesterday. The European Union also welcomed the court decision.