Turkey, Western allies in diplomatic dispute over trial of Turkish journalists

A diplomatic dispute between Ankara and its Western allies continues to grow over the presence of senior foreign diplomats at the trial of two Turkish journalists. Turkey’s Justice and Foreign ministries are accusing the diplomats of interference in Turkey’s judiciary. “Unacceptable,” tweeted Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag, irked by the presence of foreign diplomats at […]

A diplomatic dispute between Ankara and its Western allies continues to grow over the presence of senior foreign diplomats at the trial of two Turkish journalists. Turkey’s Justice and Foreign ministries are accusing the diplomats of interference in Turkey’s judiciary.
“Unacceptable,” tweeted Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag, irked by the presence of foreign diplomats at Friday’s trial of journalists Can Dundar and Erdem Gul.
Consular representatives from many of Turkey’s key Western allies were in the courtroom.  If convicted, the journalists face life imprisonment for articles accusing the government of arms smuggling to Syrian jihadists.
The large turnout of senior diplomats was widely interpreted as a show of support for Dundar and Gul, whose trial has been strongly criticized internationally.