On 5 September 2016, Istanbul’s Fifth Criminal Judgeship of Peace rejected writer, activist and PEN member Aslı Erdoğan’s appeal against her detention pending trial.
Erdoğan, a well-known author and board member of the now closed, pro-Kurdish daily newspaper Özgür Gündem was arrested on 17 August 2016 at her home in Istanbul following a raid on the newspaper’s office in Istanbul the previous day. During the initial days of her detention, Erdoğan – who suffers from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes – said that she was held in poor prison conditions and was denied essential medication for five days, as well as requests for water.
Turkey: Court rejects Aslı Erdoğan’s appeal
Aslı Erdoğan 