A Turkish court on Thursday cleared four journalists of all charges connected to their coverage of mass demonstrations in Istanbul last March. Among those acquitted was Yasin Akgul, a photojournalist with Agence France-Presse (AFP).
According to an AFP reporter present in the courtroom, the journalists had been standing trial for allegedly violating public order while documenting the protests. The demonstrations, which drew large crowds across the city, saw heightened police presence and several arrests as authorities sought to disperse participants.
The court’s ruling brings the months-long legal battle to an end, marking a relief for the journalists and press-freedom advocates who had criticized the case as an attempt to intimidate the media. All four defendants maintained that they were simply carrying out their professional duties when they were detained.
Following the verdict, supporters welcomed the decision as a positive step amid ongoing concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists in Turkey.