Turkish court rejects arrested lawmakers' release request

An Istanbul court on June 13 rejected the release request of an arrested lawmaker, who is accused of plotting to overthrow government, Hurriyet reports.

The ruling dealt another blow to hopes that a recent amendment package to the criminal code, known as the “third judicial package,” would lead to the release of deputies currently in prison pending trial.

Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) lawmaker Engin Alan, who is on trial in the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) coup-plot case, as well as other high-profile suspects on trial, had applied to the court to be released as a part of the amendments. However, the requests of Alan, Gen. Bilgin Balanlı, former Air Forces Commander Halil İbrahim Fırtına, former Navy Commander Özden Örnek and 250 other suspects including active and retired soldiers, were rejected.