Jailed Turkish journalists apply to European Court Of Human Rights

Jailed Turkish journalists apply to European Court Of Human Rights

NTVMSNBC

Nedim Şener, a leading investigative reporter at daily Milliyet, smiles after police detained him in Istanbul on March 3, 2011. AP Photo

A complaint by two famous Turkish journalists arrested as part of the Ergenekon case will be reviewed by the European Court of Human Rights, NTVMSNBC has reported.

Ahmet Şık and Nedim Şener applied to the court on account of the Turkish government's violation of their freedom of speech and their right to safety. The court examined the claims and decided to address the matter.

Şık and Şener said they were being held without being properly informed about the charges against them. The pair also included the long duration of their captivity and their conditions of incarceration in their complaints.

The European court has consequently requested a defense statement from the Turkish government while also demanding a detailed account of the reasons and the conditions for their temporary arrest.

The judges requested clarification on "the link between writing and publishing a book that voices criticism of the government and being a member of a terrorist organization," NTVMSNBC reported. 

Both Şık and Şener were arrested as part of the Ergenekon case, which is investigating an alleged ultranationalist terrorist group accused of planning to overthrow the government.