JOURNALIST Ziya Ataman has been jailed for more than 14 years in another blow to freedom of expression in Turkey, his defence team said today.

Lawyer Baris Oflas explained that the Dicle News Agency journalist had received a longer sentence than the upper limit in such a case despite there being no concrete evidence against him.

He added that the Turkish state “could not tolerate the Kurdish press,” which made Mr Ataman a target for the authorities.

Mr Ataman has been held in Van high-security prison in Turkey’s largely Kurdish south-east since April 2016, with press freedom groups warning that he was targeted for his journalistic activities.

Campaigners gathered at his hearing yesterday, demanding his immediate release due to ailing health.

But judges instead handed him a 14-year, three-month jail sentence, despite lawyers objecting that there was no legal provision for such a harsh penalty in this kind of case.

Mr Oflas confirmed that an application had been made to the European Court of Human Rights and an appeal lodged with Turkey’s courts.

Zelal Pelin Dogan of the Association of Media and Legal Studies said: “The punishment … violates many fundamental rights, especially freedom of expression. The penalty is both unlawful and disproportionate in terms of time.”

Turkey has more journalists in jail than any other country, a third of the world’s total.

Today, Seyri Sokak reporter Oktay Ince was detained by police. He was expected to be held overnight and could be jailed.

The video activist holds weekly peaceful protests, often outside government buildings, demanding freedom of speech.

But despite his actions being lawful, the Turkish state brands such demonstrations “terrorist activity.”

Mr Ince broadcasts his actions live on the @seyrisokak Twitter account.