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Turkish court begins second Ergenekon coup trial

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] A Turkish court on Monday began the trial of two former generals and 54 others suspected of planning to overthrow the country's ruling Justice Development Party (AKP). Sener Eruygur, Hursit Tolon, and their co-defendants are accused of belonging to the country's secular Ergenekon group, which is suspected of involvement in bombings, political assassination plots, and the death of journalist Hrant Dink. This is the second large trial of those arrested for alleged connections to the group. The trial of 86 others began in October 2008, and prosecutors submitted an indictment for another 52 suspects on Monday. Eruygur and Tolon face life in prison if convicted of leading Ergenekon. The probe has been criticized as an attempt by the AKP to silence opposition and further their imposition of Islamic principles in violation of Turkey's secular constitution. In June, police arrested 20 others in connection with the alleged plot. In May, the Turkish government merged a case against a lawyer accused of killing a judge with its case against Ergenekon. In March, a Turkish court ordered the arrest of Cumhuriyet journalist Mustafa Balbay and internet publisher Neriman Aydin for their alleged involvement with the groups. There are currently more than 200 suspects in custody, with 40 arrested January 7, another 12 arrested January 12, and 30 arrested January 19. The suspects include journalists, academics, army officers, policemen, and Turkish Workers' Party leader Dogu Perincek.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on July 20, 2009 (boomark / email).