• The kiss above between Kadri Gursel, one of Turkey’s most prominent political prisoners, and his wife after his release from jail has become a symbol of freedom.

Mr. Gursel still faces terrorism charges, which he denies. In an interview, he described the widespread persecution that has silenced independent voices under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “I am very angry,” he said.

Separately, our reporters looked at possible reasons Mr. Erdogan has tried to interfere in a court case in New York about a conspiracy to help Iran skirt U.S. sanctions. Wiretap recordings suggest that three defendants discussed meeting with Mr. Erdogan and acting, as one puts it, on “the prime minister’s order.”