Istanbul court rules to release the head of Amnesty in Turkey

The 2016 attempted coup prompted a government crackdown on dissent
The 2016 attempted coup prompted a government crackdown on dissent
By Euronews
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A court in Istanbul has ruled to release the head of Amnesty International in the country after nearly eight months in jail.

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The human rights group Amnesty International have reacted to an Istanbul court’s decision

to release the head of their group in the country.

Taner Kilic has been in prison since last June - when he was detained on terrorism charges.

Amnesty international's director for Europe, Gauri van Gulik, believes this case raises wider

concerns about Turkey's justice system.

Ms van Gulik said:  "I am sitting in the court with high level diplomats from all over the world, next to the consul from US, United Kingdom, İtaly, Germany, France and many other countries. There is strong support now for this case.

People understand that this case has become a symbol of the deterioration of the rule of law in Turkey."

Last October Amnesty employee Peter Steudtner was released in Turkey along with seven other human rights activists.

Since the 2016 coup attempt, 40,000 people have been arrested as part of President Erdogan's crackdown.

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