Activists accused of aiding terror groups on trial in Turkey
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Eleven human rights activists, including two from Amnesty International, went on trial Wednesday in Turkey, where they are accused of belonging to and aiding terror groups. Their cases have heightened concerns of an authoritarian turn under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ten of the activists, including Amnesty's Turkey director Idil Eser, German national Peter Steudtner and Swede Ali Gharavi, were arrested while attending a digital security training workshop in July. They face prison sentences of up to 15 years, if found guilty.
The activists have been charged with plotting an uprising and aiding Kurdish and left-wing militants. They also stand accused of abetting the movement led by a US-based cleric the Turkish government blames for a 2016 coup attempt.
As their trial opened in Istanbul, the 10 defendants denied the accusations against them and asked to be released on bail.
"I dedicated my life to truth and justice, and that is all I ask of this court," Ozlem Dalkiran of the Citizens' Assembly organization testified, according to Amnesty's International Director for Europe John Dalhuisen.
Human rights groups say the defendants are accused of "trumped up" charges.
