An Istanbul court today ordered the release of all the suspects in a hugely controversial trial of 22 students from a prestigious Istanbul university who protested on campus against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's military campaign in Syria.
Fourteen of the students had been held in jail on charges of disseminating "terror propaganda" after their initial detention in March when police stormed dormitories at Bogazici University.
But after an emotionally-charged first trial hearing, the judge ordered that the 10 young men and four young women be released. The order sparked scenes of jubilation in the packed courthouse, with families crying in jubilation and relief, an AFP correspondent said. The other eight defendants had been free — but still charged — ahead of the trial on Wednesday.