Ali Ünal, a columnist for the now-closed Zaman daily, has been sentenced to 19 years, six months in prison over alleged links to Turkey’s Gülen movement.
Detained in Usak’s Esme district on Aug. 11, 2016, Mr. Unal was put under pretrial detention 5 days later. Under arrest since then, Unal said during his first hearing: “I am 63 years old. I wrote more than 90 books, 30 of which were translated into different languages. I don’t know why I am in jail.”
The Uşak 2nd High Criminal Court convicted him of “establishing and leading an armed terrorist organization,” while acquitting Mr. Unal of any coup-related charges.
Zaman was earlier closed due to its links to the Gulen movement, which the government accuses of masterminding the July 15, 2016 coup attempt and considers a terrorist organization.
The movement denies coup and terror accusiations.
Mr. Unal was accused of “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order,” “establishing and managing an armed terrorist organization” and “membership in a terrorist organization” due to his links to the Gülen movement. Ünal faced two consecutive life sentences in addition to a 29-and-a-half-year jail sentence.
The post Former Zaman columnist Ali Ünal gets 19 years in prison on terror charges appeared first on Turkey Purge.
from Turkey Purge https://turkeypurge.com/former-zaman-columnist-ali-unal-gets-19-years-in-prison-on-terror-charges
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