Turkish Court Rules To Free Local Amnesty International Head Kilic From Custody - Watchdog

A Turkish court on Wednesday ordered to release Taner Kilic, the chairman of Amnesty International in Turkey, the press secretary of the groups Turkish branch told Sputnik.

ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th August, 2018) A Turkish court on Wednesday ordered to release Taner Kilic, the chairman of Amnesty International in Turkey, the press secretary of the groups Turkish branch told Sputnik.

"Our lawyers file petitions requesting to release Kilic every month, and the court is reviewing the need to hold him in custody on a monthly basis. Finally, we received the positive decision. But Kilic has not yet left prison, we are waiting that he will be released tonight. His trial will continue," Beril Eski said.

Kilic was arrested in June 2017 and charged with membership of the movement of the Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, which is considered by the Turkish authorities a terrorist organization behind the July 2016 failed coup attempt.

If Kilic is found guilty, he faces up to 15 years in jail.

Until Wednesday's court ruling, The activist had stayed in custody while his trial continued, despite the fact that Amnesty International had repeatedly said he was not a terrorist and called on the Turkish authorities to release him.

After the failed coup, Ankara detained thousands of journalists, diplomats, judges, members of the military and human rights activists, accusing them of having the role in the attempted government overthrow. Gulen, considered by the authorities of being the mastermind of the attempted coup, has repeatedly said he was not involved.