Fugitive Turkish editor granted citizenship of Paris

By Hajer M’tiri

PARIS (AA) - The former editor-in-chief of Turkey’s Cumhuriyet newspaper was awarded honorary citizenship of Paris on Tuesday.

Can Dundar, who fled Turkey for Germany while awaiting the outcome of an appeal against a conviction for revealing state secrets, was awarded the honor for “distinguished services” by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo at City Hall.

Last week, an arrest warrant was issued for Dundar and Cumhuriyet staff for membership of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which is said to be behind the July 15 coup attempt.

Dundar and the newspaper’s Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul were sentenced to five years, 10 months’ imprisonment in June for revealing state secrets following a story alleging Turkey was smuggling weapons to Syria.