Turkey's former military chief jailed for life and dozens sentenced to up to 50 years for plotting to overthrow Prime Minister
Turkey's former military chief has been jailed for life for plotting to overthrow Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. Retired General Ilker Basbug was one of scores of defendants that included politicians, journalists and officers accused of being part of the so-called Ergenekon plot. Today's verdicts are the culmination of five years of trials where prosecutors accused defendants of trying to organise high-profile attacks across Turkey and prepare the way for a military coup soon after Erdogan's government came to power in 2002. The landmark case has become central in tensions between Turkey's secular elite and the Prime Minister's Islamic-orientated Justice and Development Party.
The trial of scores of people including journalists and military chiefs accused of plotting to overthrow the government has sparked protests in Silivri, Turkey
Retired General Illker Basbug (left) was one of scores of defendants accused of plotting to overthrow Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's (right) government
Hundreds of protesters gathered near a courthouse in Silivri ahead of the verdicts, which have split the country and increased tensions between the secularists and Islamists Basbug and 16 other defendants were sentenced to life in prison. They included 10 retired military officers and Dogu Perincek, the leader of the left-wing and nationalist Workers Party. Sixty other defendants received sentences ranging from a year to 47 years, according to state-run TRT television news and at least 21 people were acquitted. The defendants were accused of plotting high-profile attacks that prosecutors said were aimed at sowing chaos in Turkey to prepare the way for a military coup. The prosecutions already have helped Erdogan's government reshape Turkey's military and assert civilian control in a country that had seen three military coups since 1960. Today's verdicts sparked protests, and police blocked hundreds of demonstrators from reaching the High Criminal Court in Silivri, 25 miles west of Istanbul, in a show of solidarity with the defendants. However, the trial is not expected to set off the kind of violent anti-government demonstrations that were recently sparked by a government plan to build a replica Ottoman-era barracks at a park near Istanbul's central Taksim Square.
Turkish riot police blocked roads on Monday as the five years of trials of up to 250 people came to an end
Police used tear gas against protesters. Hundreds of people demonstrated against the verdicts today but it is not expected to escalate
Protesters and riot police, who used water cannon, clashed today. Defendants were accused of trying to destabilise the country and planning a coup The trial, which began in 2008, grew out of an investigation into the seizure of 27 hand grenades at the home of a non-commissioned officer in Istanbul in 2007. The defendants were accused of being part of an alleged ultra-nationalist and pro-secular group called Ergenekon, which takes its name from a legendary valley in Central Asia believed to be the ancestral homeland of Turks. In thousands of pages of indictments, prosecutors maintained that the gang was behind a series of violent acts, including one in 2006 on a courthouse that killed a judge. Prosecutors say the incidents were made to look as though they were carried out by Islamic militants, in a bid to create turmoil and provoke military intervention. Prosecutors say the gang also plotted to kill Erdogan, Nobel laureate author Orhan Pamuk and other high-profile figures. The defendants rejected the accusations and they are expected to appeal today's verdicts and sentences to the Court of Appeals in Ankara. Prosecutors demanded life prison terms for 64 of the defendants, mostly on terrorism charges. Others were charged with possession of firearms or merely membership in Ergenekon.
Secularists in Turkey believe the trials were a sham and tried to march to the courthouse in solidarity
Secular protesters were sprayed with water cannon and tear gas as they tried to march to the courthouse
A protester waves a Turkish flag as he is sprayed with water cannon by riot police Mehmet Haberal, a surgeon and founder of a university in Ankara, and Mustafa Balbay, the Ankara representative of pro-secular Cumhuriyet newspaper, both faced life prison terms but received sentences of 12 years and 34 years, respectively. The two men were elected to Parliament in 2011 while in prison but were not able to take their seats. Tuncay Ozkan, a prominent journalist who helped organize a series of anti-government protests in 2007, was given a life sentence. The case has polarized the country between those who see it as an opportunity to unravel a shadowy network of ultra-nationalists known as the 'Deep State' that allegedly acted behind the scenes with impunity, and those who believe it is a government attempt to muzzle Erdogan's secular-minded foes and undermine Turkey's secular legacy. In a separate case, more than 300 military officers, including Turkey's former air force and navy chiefs, were convicted last year of other plots to bring down the government in 2003 and some were sentenced to 20 years in prison. Those verdicts are being appealed. A protest in Istanbul, Turkey, that began as a relatively small event earlier in the week, erupted into massive anti-government demonstrations across the country following a harsh crackdown by riot police. People had gathered in Gezi Park to prevent the demolition of the last remaining green public space in the center of Istanbul as part of a major renewal project. Pent-up anger against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party flared up after the violent breakup of the Gezi Park protest, fueling the fiercest anti-government demonstrations in years. Yesterday, more than a thousand protesters were arrested in 90 different demonstrations across Turkey. Prime Minister Erdogan has issued several defiant and dismissive messages, urging demonstrators to go home -- which they appear to be ignoring, as thousands have gathered once again in Taksim Square today, starting a third day of protest. [36 photos] Use j/k keys or ←/→ to navigate Choose: 1024px 1280px
Riot police use tear gas to disperse the a during an anti-government protest in Taksim Square in central Istanbul, Turkey, on May 31, 2013. Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannons at demonstrators, wounding scores of people and prompting rallies in other cities in the fiercest anti-government protests for years. (Reuters/Murad Sezer)
People sit, hours before riot police use tear gas and pressurized water to quash a peaceful demonstration by hundreds of people staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbul's main square, injuring a number of protesters. The protesters are demanding that the square's park, Gezi, be protected. (AP Photo) #
A Turkish riot policeman sprays tear gas as people protest against the destruction of trees in a park brought about by a pedestrian project, in Taksim Square in central Istanbul, on May 28, 2013. (Reuters/Osman Orsal) #
A Turkish riot policeman sprays tear gas as people protest against the destruction of trees in a park brought in Taksim Square in Istanbul, on May 28, 2013. (Reuters/Osman Orsal) #
In this Thursday, May 30, 2013 photo, a man wears a make-shift gas-mask hours before riot police used tear gas and pressurized water to quash a peaceful demonstration by hundreds of people staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park. (AP Photo) #
Protesters clash with Turkish riot policemen on May 31, 2013 during a protest against the demolition of the Taksim Gezi Park in Istanbul.(Gurcan Ozturk/AFP/Getty Images) #
Riot police use tear gas to disperse a crowd during an anti-government protest at Taksim Square, on May 31, 2013.(Reuters/Osman Orsal) #
Demonstrators flee from a water cannon during clashes with riot police, on May 31, 2013 during a protest in Taksim Square in Istanbul.(AFP/Getty Images) #
A Turkish riot policeman uses tear gas as a demonstrator holds a banner which reads, "Chemical Tayyip", referring to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, during a protest in Taksim Square, on May 31, 2013. (Reuters/Murad Sezer) #
Riot police use tear gas to disperse the crowd during an anti-government protest at Taksim Square, Istanbul, on May 31, 2013.(Reuters/Osman Orsal) #
A demonstrator throws a tear gas canister back toward riot police during an anti-government protest in central Istanbul, on May 31, 2013.(Reuters/Murad Sezer) #
A demonstrator reacts as riot police use a water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowd in Taksim Square, on May 31, 2013.(Reuters/Murad Sezer) #
Riot police fire tear gas canisters in Taksim Square, on May 31, 2013. (Reuters/Murad Sezer) #
A man plants a tree in Istiklal street on June 1, 2013, during a protest against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park in Istanbul.(Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images) #
Protesters arrive in Taksim Square on June 1, 2013 after clashing with riot police in Istanbul. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images) #
Supporters of Turkey's Communist Party (TKP) shout slogans during an anti-government protest at Taksim square, on June 1, 2013.(Reuters/Murad Sezer) #
A police officer fires tear gas toward protesters in Taksim Square in Istanbul, on June 1, 2013. (AP Photo) #
Tear gas spreads among demonstrators in Taksim square, on June 1, 2013. (Reuters/Murad Sezer) #
A woman opens her arms as police use a water cannon to disperse protesters on June 1, 2013 during a protest in Istanbul.(Fatih Kece/AFP/Getty Images) #
Tear gas surrounds a protester holding a Turkish flag with a portrait of the founder of modern Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk as he takes part in a demonstration in support of protests in Istanbul and against the Turkish Prime Minister and his ruling Justice and Development Party, in Ankara, on June 1, 2013. (Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images) #
A woman runs past riot police hiding behind their shields during clashes with demonstrators protesting against Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party in central Ankara, on June 1, 2013. (Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
Riot police and security men confront protesters at the city's main Taksim Square, on June 1, 2013. (AP Photo) #
Riot police use tear gas to disperse a crowd during an anti-government protest in Istanbul, on June 1, 2013. (Reuters/Murad Sezer) #
A man is struck by a jet of water as riot police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in central Ankara, on June 1, 2013. (Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
Riot police help a woman affected by tear gas fired during clashes with demonstrators in Ankara, on June 1, 2013.(Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
An injured riot police officer is carried to an ambulance during clashes with demonstrators in Ankara, on June 1, 2013.(Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
Riot police behind shields fire tear gas as they clash with anti-government protesters in Taksim square, on June 1, 2013.(Reuters/Murad Sezer) #
A bleeding protester is assisted as demonstrators clash with riot police on June 1, 2013, in Istanbul. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images) #
A security officer in Istanbul's Taksim Square on June 1, 2013. (AP Photo) #
An injured demonstrator is carried to an ambulance during clashes with riot police in Ankara, on June 1, 2013. (Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
An injured man is helped as Turkish protesters clash with riot police near the former Ottoman palace, Dolmabahce, where Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan maintains an office in Istanbul, late Saturday, June 1, 2013. (AP Photo) #
Turkish protesters confront riot police near the former Ottoman palace, Dolmabahce, in Istanbul, on June 1, 2013. (AP Photo) #
Riot police spray a water cannon at Turkish protesters near the former Ottoman palace, Dolmabahce, in Istanbul, on June 1, 2013.(AP Photo) #
Protesters clash with riot police between Taksim and Besiktas in Istanbul, late on June 1, 2013. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images) #
A street vendor sells umbrellas in front of destroyed police cars in Taskim square in Istanbul, early on Sunday, June 2, 2013.(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) #
Protesters gather for the third day of nationwide anti-government protest at the Taskim square in Istanbul, on Sunday, June 2, 2013.(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) Demonstrators across Turkey took to the streets again this morning, continuing a week of unprecedented protest against what they see as Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's authoritarian rule, police brutality, and the destruction of Istanbul's Taksim Park for the sake of a development project. More than 4,300 people have been wounded so far in a dozen cities, and at least two have died. Members of the Turkish government offered apologies for excessive use of police force, but Erdogan remained dismissive and defiant, insisting he will continue with the planned development of Taksim Park. Collected here are scenes from Turkey over the past few days, as tens of thousands remain in the streets, and the government shows no sign of making concessions.
A couple wearing gas masks walk in a street between Taksim and Besiktas in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 4, 2013 during an anti-government demonstration. What started as an outcry against a local development project has snowballed into widespread anger against what critics say is the government's increasingly conservative and authoritarian agenda. (Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images)
A protester waves the Turkish flag from a roof top at Taksim square on June 3, 2013 in Istanbul. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) #
Demonstrators clash with riot police between Taksim and Besiktas in Istanbul, on June 4, 2013. (Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images) #
Riot police walk past a burning barricade during clashes with anti-government protesters in Ankara, early on June 5, 2013.(Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
Riot police fire tear gas toward demonstrators in Istanbul, on June 4, 2013. (Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images) #
A protester runs away from tear gas during clashes with Turkish riot policemen between Taksim and Besiktas in Istanbul, on June 3, 2013.(Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images) #
Protestors carry another who sustained a head injury from a gas canister. (© Barbaros Kayan) #
A protester escapes from the action in a treed area, moving slowly due to difficulty breathing in a mask. (© Barbaros Kayan) #
Hundreds of police advance to Dolmabahce from Darphane, forcing demonstrators to take refuge in apartment buildings.(© Barbaros Kayan) #
A man standing on the roof of Ataturk Cultural center looks at protesters gathered at Taksim square in Istanbul, on June 4, 2013.(AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis) #
Protesters sleep near tents in Gezi Park near Taksim Square in Istanbul, on June 6, 2013. (Reuters/Stoyan Nenov) #
A man walks past damaged buses near Istanbul's Taksim Square, on June 6, 2013. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) #
Anti-government protesters march during a demonstration in Ankara, on June 5, 2013. (Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
Protesters raise their hands as they shout slogans during a protest at Taksim Square in Istanbul, on June 3, 2013.(AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis) #
Protesters shout anti-government slogans during a demonstration in Taksim Square, on June 3, 2013. (Reuters/Osman Orsal) #
Riot police move into position around the Prime Minister's office in Ankara, on June 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) #
Protesters spend their afternoon in Gezi Park in Taksim Square, on June 4, 2013. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) #
Protesters practice yoga in Gezi park, on Thursday, June 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) #
A whirling dervish holding a gas mask performs in Taksim square, on June 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis) #
Anti-government protesters demonstrate in Taksim Square, on June 5, 2013. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) #
A newly married couple pose for their wedding picture at Istiklal street near Taksim square in Istanbul, on June 2, 2013.(Reuters/Deniz Celik) #
Riot police use a water cannon to disperse protesters in Ankara, on June 5, 2013. (AP Photo) #
A police officer helps a woman during an anti-government protest in Istanbul, on June 3, 2013. (Reuters/Stoyan Nenov) #
An anti-government protester has his face covered by cling wrap, which they use as a makeshift tear gas mask, during clashes in Ankara, on June 3, 2013. (Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
A riot police officer fires tear gas at protesters during a demonstration in Ankara, on June 3, 2013. (Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
Police use a water cannon against protesters during a demonstration in Ankara, on June 3, 2013. (Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
Anti-government protesters ask for help for their wounded fellow after riot police attacked them during a protest in Ankara, on June 5, 2013. (Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
Anti-government protesters try to protect themselves from a water cannon as riot police disperse them during a protest in Ankara, on June 5, 2013. (Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
A man looks on as anti-government protesters demonstrate in Gezi park in Taksim Square, on June 5, 2013. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) #
Protesters stand on the roof of a building at sunset in Taksim square, on June 4, 2013. (Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images) #
Protestors cover their faces with plastic during clashes with Turkish police near Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office, on June 4, 2013. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) #
A protestor uses a mobile device to report the latest news about the clashes near Taksim in Istanbul, on June 3, 2013.(Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images) #
Protesters pass along stones for building a barricade during clashes with riot police in Istanbul, on June 3, 2013.(Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images) #
Turkish riot policemen unload tear gas canisters during clashes with protesters in Istanbul, on June 3, 2013.(Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images) #
Anti-government protesters demonstrate in central Ankara June 3, 2013. (Reuters/Umit Bektas) #
A protester gestures towards riot police after they fired tear gas in front of a barricade in Istanbul, on June 4, 2013.(Reuters/Stoyan Nenov) #
A Turkish riot police officer fires tear gas during clashes with protestors in Istanbul, on June 3, 2013. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images) #
Protestors clash with Turkish riot policemen in Istanbul, on June 3, 2013. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images) #
A detained demonstrator in Istanbul, on June 4, 2013. (Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images) #
A protester watches another throw a stone at police during clashes near Taksim square, on June 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis) #
A medical team treats a protestor overcome by tear gas during clashes with Turkish police near Prime Minister Erdogan's offices, on June 4, 2013. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) #
A protester gestures during clashes with Turkish police in Istanbul, on June 4, 2013. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)
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