4 scholars on trial for criticizing Turkey's war with rebels

ISTANBUL (AP) — Four Turkish academics went on trial Friday in Istanbul accused of spreading "terrorist propaganda" as Turkey continues to clamp down on dissenting voices.

The four academics were among a group of more than 1,000 scholars who in January signed a declaration critical of the government's military operations against Kurdish rebels. The declaration angered President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and led to legal proceedings against some.

They were arrested last month after holding a news conference during which they stood by the declaration.

In a separate courtroom also Friday, a closed-door trial resumed for two prominent opposition journalists who are accused of espionage and aiding a terrorist organization for their reports on alleged government arms-smuggling to Syria.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the courthouse in Istanbul to show their support for Cumhuriyet newspaper's chief editor Can Dundar and Ankara representative Erdem Gul, as well as the four academics.

Protesters carried signs calling for an end to "dictatorships in university."

The controversial trials come weeks after Erdogan called for a broader legal definition of "terrorism" and "terrorist" to include activists, journalists and legislators who voice support for terrorism organizations.

Human rights and press freedom groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the limited tolerance of dissent shown by authorities in Turkey, where nearly 2,000 legal cases are open for individuals accused of insulting the Turkish president.

"Journalism can never be described as espionage," said opposition legislator Garo Paylan. "Journalism is about revealing misdeeds by the state and relaying this to the public."

The trial of Dundar and Gul was adjourned until May 6 and Dundar expressed hope the case was nearing acquittal.

Source https://in.news.yahoo.com/4-scholars-trial-criticizing-turkeys-war-rebels-072512345.html?nhp=1