- Title: Turkey targets opposition newspaper over suspected coup links
- Date: 19th May 2017
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) LAWYER OF SOZCU NEWSPAPER, CELAL ULGEN, SAYING: "One of the allegations is sharing the picture of the hotel where the president was taking vacation in Marmaris (before the coup). This is valid news everywhere, in every country, it is a scoop. To publish it first is a journalism duty. Hence the charges are absurd. In addition, both the prosecutor and the judge know it but since they are not independent, they are yes-men, they are doing it (the prosecution)." FRONT PAGE OF FRIDAY'S SOZCU NEWSPAPER WITH HEADLINE READING (Turkish): 'ATATURK IS THE GREATEST LEADER OF THE CENTURY' (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) LAWYER OF SOZCU NEWSPAPER, CELAL ULGEN, SAYING: "This is an absurd, imaginary operation, not bounded with realities. And this operation includes search warrants. Even though the element of crime is not to be found, orders to catch and detain (people) are issued. It is claiming that there is connection to FETO (shorthand for 'Gulenist Terror Organisation') but this newspaper is the arch-enemy of FETO." VARIOUS OF MEETING BETWEEN SOZCU NEWSPAPERS SENIOR JOURNALISTS VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS WORKING IN OFFICE
- Embargoed: 2nd June 2017 16:43
- Keywords: journalist detention coup opposition Sozcu newspaper media security Turkey
- Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA0036HI9K5J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for the owner and three employees of an opposition newspaper, a police source and the paper said on Friday (May 19).
It's seen as part of a continuing media crackdown that has alarmed rights groups and Turkey's western allies.
The four are accused of committing crimes on behalf of the network of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, they said.
Gulen is blamed by Ankara for masterminding last July's failed coup against President Tayyip Erdogan, a charge he denies.
Turkish police carried out searches at the homes of the owner and the three employees of Sozcu newspaper, which is fiercely critical of Erdogan and his ruling AK Party, and also detained the paper's internet editor, the police source said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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