3 Turkish rights activists acquitted of terror-related charges

A court in Istanbul has acquitted the Turkey representative for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and two other human rights activists of charges of engaging in terrorist propaganda.

The media advocacy group said Erol Onderoglu of Reporters Without Borders, Sebnem Korur Fincanci, head of the Human Rights Foundation and writer Ahmet Nesin were acquitted on Wednesday.

They were charged three years ago for taking part in a campaign to show solidarity with a pro-Kurdish newspaper, Ozgur Gundem, which was later closed down by Turkish authorities, AP said. The paper was accused of being a mouthpiece for the banned Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK).

RSF welcomed their acquittal, but tweeted that “three years of absurd proceedings was already a form of unjust punishment.”