Information Note on the Court’s case-law 208

June 2017

Sabuncu and Others v. Turkey (communicated) - 23199/17

Article 5

Article 5-1

Liberty of person

Article 5-3

Brought promptly before judge or other officer

Article 5-4

Speediness of review

Alleged politically motivated judicial harassment against journalists: communicated

Article 10

Article 10-1

Freedom of expression

Alleged breach of freedom of expression of journalists: communicated

Article 18

Restrictions for unauthorised purposes

Alleged politically motivated judicial harassment against journalists: communicated

In October and November 2016 ten journalists from the daily newspaper Cumhuriyet (“the Republic”) were arrested and placed in pre-trial detention on suspicion of having committed offences on behalf of terrorist organisations and disseminating propaganda. The applicants challenged the relevant detention order s and applied, unsuccessfully, for release. Proceedings before the Constitutional Court are pending.

In the Convention proceedings, the applicants complain under Article 5 §§ 1, 3 and 4 about their pre-trial detention and its duration, under Article 10 tha t there has been a breach of their freedom of expression and under Article 18 that their detention is a sanction against them for criticising the Government and amounts to politically-motivated judicial harassment.

Communicated under Article 5 §§ 1, 3 and 4 and Articles 10 and 18 of the Convention.

© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.

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