Ahmet Altan was the editor-in-chief of the Taraf Newspaper, which was shut down by a presidential decree on July 28, 2016. He began his journalism career in 1974. He has been in prison since Sept. 23, 2016. He received an aggravated life sentence in “the FETÖ Media Main Trial.” The Court of Appeal confirmed the verdict, however, the Court of Cassation reversed it. He was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months imprisonment for the crime of “knowingly and willingly aiding an organisation without being a member.”

He was released but after objections he was arrested once again at November 13th.

Ali Ünal was a columnist for Zaman Newspaper which was then shut down. The court sentenced Ünal to 19 years and 6 months imprisonment for “establishing and managing an armed terrorist organization.” The verdict was approved by the Court of Appeal and is now at the Court of Cassation. He has been imprisoned since Aug. 15, 2016.

Ayşenur Parıldak was a journalist for the Zaman Newspaper, which has since been closed. Parıldak was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for FETÖ membership. The decision was approved by both the Court of Appeal and Cassation. Parıldak, who was 26 years old when she was arrested, has been in prison since August 2016.

She started her journalism career at Zaman Newspaper. She was taken into custody and arrested while she was working at the Yarına Bakış Newspaper. Following the coup attempt, she was taken into custody accusing her of “taking part in the media structure of the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ).” Erdal was charged with “being a member of a terrorist organisation” and sentenced a 6 years and 3 months prison time. She is now in prison.

Mehmet Baransu was a correspondent with the now shuttered Taraf Newspaper. For his news articles on “Balyoz Coup Plan” and “Egemen Action Plan” published on Taraf Newspaper, he is in prison pending trial since March 2, 2015. The prosecutor has requested 35 to 75 years of prison for these articles.

Mümtazer Türköne was a columnist for the Zaman Newspaper. He was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months of imprisonment for “being a member of a terrorist organization” as part of the case where other writers and executives of the newspaper were put on trial. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence. His file is in the Court of Cassation. He has been in Silivri Prison since Aug. 4, 2016.

Mustafa Ünal was the Ankara representative of the Zaman Newspaper. In the scope of the Zaman trial, he was sentenced to 10 years, 6 months imprisonment for “being a member of an armed terrorist organization.” The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence. His file is in the Court of Cassation. Ünal has been in prison since July 30, 2016.

Nedim Türfent started journalism in 2012 at the Dİcle News Agency (DİHA), which has been shut down by a decree law. In May 2016, he was taken into custody in Van. He was sentenced to 8 years and 9 months in prison on the charge of “being a member of an organization.” The verdict was approved by the Court of Cassation on Oct. 8, 2019. His individual appeal to the Constitutional Court is ongoing. He has been detained since May 13, 2016 in Van F Type High Security Prison.