Ali Ünal, a former Zaman columnist and his brother Mustafa Ünal were detained on Aug. 15. They were arrested on Aug. 16 as part of the investigation into the attempted coup of July 15. Ünal and the others are facing charges of “membership in an armed terrorist organization,” “aiding a terrorist organization,” and “spreading propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization.” While columnist Ali Unal was detained, prosecutor took over the money which he saved for his ill daughter’s hospital expenses.
In a related development, a court rejected an objection filed against the July 31 arrest ruling for former Zaman columnists Şahin Alpay, Lale Kemal, Ali Bulaç and Nuriye Akman on the grounds that “no new evidence has emerged” in the investigation to secure their release.