ANKARA: Five Turkish journalists were beginning jail sentences on Tuesday after a court rejected their appeal against a conviction related to their coverage of the deaths of Turkish intelligence officers in Libya in 2020, a lawyer in the case said.
The five were convicted in September 2020 of revealing information and documents connected to intelligence activities. They were variously held in detention for up to six months during their trial.
The charges related to articles and social media posts published shortly after President Tayyip Erdogan said in February 2020 that Turkey had “several martyrs” in Libya.
Turkey has provided military support and training to Libya’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord, and helped it fight off an assault lasting several months on the capital Tripoli by eastern Libyan forces led by Khalifa Haftar.
Two journalists were sentenced in September 2020 to three years and nine months in jail, while three were given four years and eight months.
The defendants denied the accusations, saying they had been doing their jobs as journalists. An appeals court rejected their application on Jan. 28.
According to the indictment, Murat Agirel, a reporter for Yeni Cag newspaper, was the first to reveal the identities of the intelligence officers, sharing names and photos on Twitter and referring to Erdogan’s comments.
“I am going to jail again for wishing martyrdom for the children of the homeland who fell as martyrs ... Do not be silent, do not fear,” Agirel tweeted on Tuesday before turning himself in.
Celal Ulgen, a lawyer in the case, said the journalists were being jailed for doing their jobs and called the sentences “an intimidation directed toward all of society.”
Turkey is one of the world’s biggest jailers of journalists.
Critics say Erdogan has eroded the independence of courts and the media since a crackdown following an attempted coup in 2016. Officials say the courts are autonomous and arrests have been necessary due to security risks.
Turkish courts do not generally confirm rulings to the media and there was no word on Tuesday’s case from the government.
Five Turkish journalists to be jailed over Libya coverage after failed appeal
https://arab.news/cpvz9
Five Turkish journalists to be jailed over Libya coverage after failed appeal
- The five were convicted in September 2020 of revealing information and documents connected to intelligence activities
- Two journalists were sentenced in September 2020 to three years and nine months in jail, while three were given four years and eight months
UAE, Qatar reject Bloomberg reports on defense capabilities
- The ministry said the UAE operates diverse, integrated and multi-layered air defense systems capable of countering a full range of aerial threats
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have rejected Bloomberg reporting on their defensive capabilities, describing the claims as inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the report did not reflect the country’s level of preparedness, technological sophistication or operational readiness. It said the UAE operates diverse, integrated and multi-layered air defense systems capable of countering a full spectrum of aerial threats, including long, medium and short-range systems that provide comprehensive protection of national airspace.
The ministry also said the country maintains a robust strategic stockpile of munitions to ensure sustained interception and response capacity over extended periods. It reaffirmed that the UAE’s defense capabilities and national security framework remain “steadfast and uncompromised,” stressing that the safety of citizens, residents and visitors remains a top priority.
In a separate statement, Qatar’s International Media Office denied a Bloomberg report claiming the country’s stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles had been depleted.
It said the inventory held by the Qatar Armed Forces “has not been depleted and remains well-stocked,” adding that the military remains at full readiness to defend the nation against external threats.
Qatar also criticized the publication of what it described as unverified information during a fast-moving and sensitive period in the region, calling it irresponsible and warning it is reviewing all appropriate options, including legal measures, to ensure the information is corrected.
