On May 3, the World Press Freedom Day, the International Press Institute (IPI) Board member and Turkish National Committee Chair Kadri Gürsel marked the day with a solidarity message with his co-defendants in the Cumhuriyet trial, which was finalized in April 2018, handing ruthless jail terms to 14 journalist and executives of independent daily Cumhuriyet.

Gürsel highlighted the importance of solidarity for his colleagues and stressed upon Turkish journalists’ determination to fight for independent press and journalism to prosper without fear. Six out of 14 defendants have returned to prison last week after an appeals court upheld their sentences in February 2019.