Turkish journalist Büşra Erdal has recently been released on probation after serving a total of 4 years, 8 months in İstanbul’s Bakırköy Prison on terror charges.
Erdal used to work for the Zaman and Yeni Hayat dailies, both of which were closed down by the Turkish government due to their links to the Gülen group.
A high criminal court in İstanbul in March 8 concluded the trial of Erdal and dozens of other journalists and handed down a jail sentence of six years, three months to her on charges of membership in a terrorist organization.
The Turkish government accuses the Gülen group of masterminding a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016 and labels it a “terrorist organization,” although the movement denies involvement in the coup attempt.