Turkey begins trial of 11 human rights activists

Turkish authorities have put 11 human rights activists on trial, including the Turkish chairman of Amnesty International, Taner Kilic on charges of terrorism, a case that has become a flashpoint in Turkey's tensions with European allies.

Those facing charges at Istanbul's Caglayan courthouse on Wednesday were arrested in separate police raids in June and July after participating in a workshop on digital security held on an island near Istanbul and include one Swede and a German national.

Accusations brought against them include supporting groups that Turkey has proscribed as "terrorist" organisations, such as the Gulen movement, and Kurdish separatist factions and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

The Gulen movement, led by exiled Turkish religious leader, Fethullah Gulen, is accused by Turkey's authorities of plotting a failed military coup in July 2016, which left around 300 people dead.

In its aftermath, authorities launched a broad crackdown on anyone suspected of ties to the group.

Turkey is also fighting Kurdish separatists from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and its splinter organisations.