Release Ordered For Fatih Altaylı

Altaylı, who had been in pre-trial detention for six months, was granted release in the case in which he was tried over statements made during his YouTube programme.

The Istanbul Regional Court of Justice ruled for Altaylı’s release in the appeal process concerning his conviction for the offence of “threatening the President,” for which he was sentenced to four years and two months in prison.

The case file, in which the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court had sentenced Altaylı to four years and two months’ imprisonment, was referred to the appellate court. The 2nd Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice examined the defence lawyers’ requests for release.

In its decision, the chamber cited the nature of the offence attributed to the defendant, the fact that evidence had already been collected, the absence of a risk of absconding, the length of the sentence imposed at the end of the trial, and the period Altaylı had already spent in detention. Taking these factors into account, the court ordered his release. The chamber’s examination of the case file on the merits is continuing.

Altaylı had been taken into custody and remanded in prison on the grounds that he had targeted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and used threatening language during the broadcast in question. At the conclusion of the trial, the court panel had ruled that he be sentenced to four years and two months in prison.