The 10th Ýstanbul High Criminal Court has ruled later on Friday not to release Sledgehammer suspect Engin Alan, who was elected to Parliament for the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on June 12 general elections.

Istanbul Public Prosecutor Savaþ Kýrbaþ requested the court reject an application to release the Sledgehammer suspect earlier this week.

Sledgehammer is a subversive plot allegedly prepared in 2003-2004 by a clique within the military that included plans to crash jets and bomb large mosques during busy prayer hours to undermine the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) with the hope of eventually overthrowing it.

The Ýstanbul 13th High Criminal Court, which is hearing the case against Ergenekon, had already announced on Thursday its decision on two Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputies, journalist Mustafa Balbay and Professor Mehmet Haberal. With a majority vote ruled against their release although they were elected as deputies.

Today the relevant courts should decide on the release of Labor, Democratic and Freedom Block deputies still in prison.