Two Turkish journalists were released on bail after spending more than a year in detention on terror-related charges. The journalists were set free on Friday, yet the charges against them still stand.

The two journalists, Ahmet Sık and Murat Sabuncu, were among more than a dozen journalists employed by opposition newspaper Cumhurriyet to be put on trial for the same charges.

Many journalists were arrested after the attempted military coup against the regime of Recep Erdogan in 2016. Since then, the Turkish government has imposed many restrictions on the opposition and its media. Cumhuriyet remained critical of the Turkish regime despite the restrictions.

Sık talked to media upon his release saying the time for celebration has not come yet and added that “This mafia sultanate will go where it deserves one day, and that will be the day we will be happy.".

Amnesty International has spoken against the chilling effect on the Turkish media and the miscarriage of justice by condemning the conviction of Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak who became the first Turkish journalists to be convicted of involvement in the coup attempt. The journalists received aggravated life sentences for "attempting to overthrow the government" merely for doing their work as journalists.