Protesters demand the release of politicians accused of plotting to topple Turkey’s govt

Protest in Turkey against detention of politicians

ISTANBUL — Hundreds of people have marched to a prison complex to demand the release of pro-secular politicians accused of plotting to bring down Turkey’s Islamic-oriented government.

The protesters — mostly members of the left-wing Workers’ Party — marched to the prison facility in the outskirts of Istanbul on Monday where hundreds of secularists are being held and tried. The party’s leader, Dogu Perincek, is among them.

The demonstrators also are denouncing a planned Sept. 12 referendum on constitutional reforms which opponents say will increase government control over the judiciary.

Prosecutors say the accused plotted chaos to compel the military to take power from the government. Secularists say the arrests are a government effort to intimidate them.