An Istanbul court on Monday acquitted only 21 of 275 suspects in a coup plot trial, handing down a life sentence to Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug.
The general was among the 17 who received life sentences, according to Hurriyet Daily News. The group consisted of high-ranking army officials, journalists and academics.
Three opposition members of parliament received sentences of 12 to 35 years in prison, Voice of America.
The suspects faced a wide variety of charges all in connection with the Ergenekon network, which has been recognized by the government as a terrorist organization that attempted to overthrow the government.
The case went on for five years, after being launched by the discovery of 27 hand grenades in a house in Istanbul.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse to support those on trial. The case has become representative of the conflict between Islamist Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the country’s secular citizens and parties.
Police fired tear gas at the protesters, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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