MEP David Casa has had meetings in Istanbul with investigative journalist Pelin Ünker and her legal team. Pelin Ünker is part of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and was sentenced to 13 months in prison after reporting on the Paradise Papers.

Mr Casa said journalists in Turkey suffer the consequences whenever the actions of people in power are exposed.

"While this is by no means exclusive to Turkey, Turkey stands out because of the severity of punishment as well as the sheer number of journalists that have been detained as a direct result of their investigative work. When the facts that have been reported are uncontested it makes the handing down of a prison sentence all the more grievous," he said.

Mr Casa said he would be inviting Pelin Unker to visit the European Parliament and would be taking further action at EU level in an effort to prevent the cruel sentence from being enforced. 

Pelin Ünker is now facing an additional case based on the same series of articles but concerning the son-in-law of President Erdogan.

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