In Brief
On December 29, 2016, the renowned writer and linguist Necmiye Alpay was released from Bakirkoy prison in Istanbul, 120 days after she was arrested on alleged terror charges as a part of an ongoing investigation into the closed daily newspaper Özgür Gündem.
Case History
On August 31, 2016, Istanbul’s Eighth Criminal Judgeship of Peace ordered the arrest of Alpay on charges of “being a member of a terror organization” and “disrupting the unity of the state;” charges she denies, according to Pen International. Her membership on the advisory board of the antigovernment daily, Ozgur Gundem, was held against her.
Alpay was released along with two others—writer Asli Erdogan and journalist Zana Kaya.