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Turkey’s top court orders compensation be paid to Altan for wrongful imprisonment

Turkey’s Constitutional Court ordered payment in the amount of TL 30,000 ($5,000) as compensation to Mehmet Altan, a Turkish economist and journalist who was incarcerated for 21 months on terrorism charges, due to the refusal of a local court to release him following a ruling issued by the top court.

He was detained on Sept. 21, 2016, a few months after an abortive putsch, on allegations of supporting a terrorist organization, in reference to the faith-based Gülen movement.

Turkey accuses the movement of orchestrating the failed coup, although it strongly denies any involvement.

The top court in January 2018 ruled that Altan’s right to freedom had been violated; however, a local court ordered a continuation of his incarceration until June 2018.

“In cases that the Constitutional Court rules rights have been violated and in which the court orders an end to the violation, the relevant authorities [courts] must act accordingly to resolve the consequences of the violation,” the top court said in a statement.

Altan was later acquitted in a retrial.

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