Erdem Gül

The Istanbul prosecutor's office asked on Jan. 27 for life imprisonment for two Turkish journalists, Can Dündar and Erdem Gül, who had been arrested on suspicions of plotting against the government and military espionage for reporting on an ongoing court case alleging Turkey's National Intelligence Agency (M?T) sent weapons to the civil war-hit Syria.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmu? has said his government has repeatedly voiced its objection to the pre-trial detention of journalists in the country.

A coalition from the world's most prestigious press freedom organizations condemned the isolation of arrested Turkish journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül on Jan. 27, holding a vigil in front of Istanbul's Silivri prison to show their support.

An indictment against Turkish journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül for highlighting weapons transfers by the country's intelligence agency has been completed by the case's prosecutor, with the daily Cumhuriyet reporters facing life in prison. 

Recently, there have been ongoing debates which may cause serious fractures in Turkey's foreign policy. These debates also carry the risk of escalating the existing fragilities in the economy.

Turkish poet and writer Naz?m Hikmet will be commemorated on the 114th anniversary of his birth with a large event in Essen, Germany, on Jan. 31. 

Jailed Turkish journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül, accused of spying and helping a terrorist group, have told Reuters in a faxed message from prison that their arrest was designed to send a warning to journalists. 

Jailed Turkish journalist Can Dündar has sent the Italian prime minister an open letter arguing the rapprochement between Turkey and the European Union over refugees should not overshadow violations of fundamental rights and freedoms in Turkey during the country's EU accession process.

Journalists, lawmakers and representatives from several press unions and organizations marked Jan. 10, Working Journalists' Day, staging a march in central Istanbul, with dozens of others having cycled along some part of the Bosphorus shoreline.

The consuls general to Istanbul of 10 European Union countries have staged a solidarity visit to daily Cumhuriyet headquarters over the arrest of two of the paper's journalists, Can Dündar and Erdem Gül, for publishing a story on Syria-bound National Intelligence Agency (M?T) trucks that were allegedly carrying weapons to militants.