Academics for Peace trial starts in Turkey

Sat Apr 23, 2016 1:45AM
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Supporters of four jailed Turkish academics gather in front of the Istanbul courthouse during their trial on April 22, 2016 in Istanbul. (AFP)
Supporters of four jailed Turkish academics gather in front of the Istanbul courthouse during their trial on April 22, 2016 in Istanbul. (AFP)

Verenia Keet 
Press TV, Istanbul

Freedom of expression in Turkey has come under the spotlight as four academics went on trial for signing a petition which deplores the government’s deadly crackdown against Kurds in the southeast. On Friday, the academics were released, pending the trial as prosecutors moved to scale back the charges against them. Their trial was the latest of a series of court cases highlighting growing restrictions on free speech under President Rejep Tayyip Erdogan. Press TV’s Verenia Keet reports from Istanbul.