Nov 27, Kathmandu - A Turkish court on Thursday released four journalists, including AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, who were on trial for mass protests in Istanbul in March.

The four photographers were arrested during protests sparked by the arrest of Istanbul's powerful opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a top rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

They were accused of violating the law, including thousands of protesters, during demonstrations and public gatherings.

“The defendants were found not guilty by the judge and released because there was no solid evidence to support the alleged crimes,” it said.

Akgül is an international media worker, while the other three are Ali Onur Tosun of Now Heber in Turkey and freelancers Bülent Kılıç and Zeynep Kuray.

AFP management has repeatedly called for Akgül’s release, while his lawyer Kemal Kumkumoğlu told the court in a final hearing on October 24 that there was no criminal wrongdoing.

A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced popular political journalist and commentator Fatih Altayli to four years in prison for threatening Erdogan. Turkey is ranked 159th out of 180 countries on RSF’s World Press Freedom Index.