An Istanbul court accepted an indictment that reportedly charges Turkish journalist Ahmet Şık with being a member of a “terrorist organisation” and with threatening and defaming the judiciary, Reuters reported.

The news agency said that Şık – who was released March 12 after more than one year in prison, but who still faces trial and a possible 7 1/2 to 15-year sentence in the ongoing Oda TV case – faces an additional seven-year sentence if convicted on the new charges.

Reuters said the Istanbul court declined comment on the indictment, but the news agency quoted local reports attributing the charges to Şık’s remarks outside the Silivri prison following his release. Following his release from the prison, Şık accused the judiciary of politicisation and he told a crowd that justice would only be served when those who orchestrated his incarceration were themselves imprisoned.

Quoting local media, Reuters reported that the indictment, in addition to accusing Şık of defaming some 39 judges and prosecutors, charges the journalist with being a member of an armed terrorist organisation on the basis that his comments sought to make use of the intimidating powers of a criminal organisation.

IPI Deputy Director Anthony Mills today criticised the new charges against Şık, commenting: “We are gravely concerned by this development. The charges reportedly brought against Mr. Şık, read broadly, appear to equate the practice of journalism with a crime and label the fraternity of journalists a ‘terrorist organisation’. The situation journalists in Turkey currently face, with at least 90 still in prison, has been called ‘Kafka-esque’, but these charges render even that description an understatement.”

IPI’s affiliate, the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), joined IPI in criticising the charges.

Şık reportedly faces a hearing in court on Sept. 13, one day before he is due to be in court again as proceedings in the Oda TV case resume.