Turkish court gives life sentences to 104 people for involvement in military coup – report

A Turkish court on Monday sentenced 104 people to life in prison for involvement in a failed military coup in 2016, the Hurriyet daily reported, in one of the heaviest penalties given since the attempt. The court in the Aegean coastal town of Izmir handed 104 of 280 defendants “aggravated” life sentences, the newspaper said, the harshest punishment possible under Turkish law as it raises the minimum time in jail required for parole. Another 21 people were given 20 years in prison for insulting the president, while 31 others were sentenced to 10 years and six months for “membership of a terrorist organization,” according to the report. Since the coup attempt, Turkish authorities have detained 160,000 people and dismissed nearly the same number of civil servants.