Turkish police raid media close to Muslim cleric, 24 arrested
- 9 years ago
These Turkish supporters of a Muslim cleric in exile say it's a day of shame for democracy.
This, after police raided media outlets closely associated with the cleric, where according to reports, 24 people were detained.
Police say arrest warrants have been issued for at least 31 people on charges of "establishing a terrorist group", forgery and slander.
President Tayyip Erdogan says they're part of a terrorist network wielding influence through the media to topple him.
But inside the headquarters of the Zaman Daily Newspaper, editor Ekrem Dumanli, says nothing less than freedom of expression in Turkey is at stake:
(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) EDITOR OF ZAMAN NEWSPAPER EKREM DUMANLI, SAYING:
"New laws are being legislated, everybody is being made a suspect and the next step would be suspending the parliament because freedom of expression has two legs. One is media, the other is parliament. If you silence us here, the only institution will be parliament. You
This, after police raided media outlets closely associated with the cleric, where according to reports, 24 people were detained.
Police say arrest warrants have been issued for at least 31 people on charges of "establishing a terrorist group", forgery and slander.
President Tayyip Erdogan says they're part of a terrorist network wielding influence through the media to topple him.
But inside the headquarters of the Zaman Daily Newspaper, editor Ekrem Dumanli, says nothing less than freedom of expression in Turkey is at stake:
(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) EDITOR OF ZAMAN NEWSPAPER EKREM DUMANLI, SAYING:
"New laws are being legislated, everybody is being made a suspect and the next step would be suspending the parliament because freedom of expression has two legs. One is media, the other is parliament. If you silence us here, the only institution will be parliament. You