Turkish authorities ordered the formal arrest pending
trial on Saturday of nine executives and journalists of a leading
opposition newspaper who were detained on Monday.
Axar.az reports referring to broadcaster NTV.
The detention of the editor-in-chief and senior staff of
Cumhuriyet over the secularist newspaper's alleged support for a
failed coup in July was described by a top EU politician as the
crossing of a red line against freedom of expression. Their homes
were also searched.
Istanbul prosecutors have said staff at the paper, one of few
media outlets still critical of President Tayyip Erdogan, are
suspected of committing crimes on behalf of Kurdish militants and
the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey accuses
Gulen of orchestrating the coup attempt, though he denies any
involvement.
Cumhuriyet's previous editor, Can Dundar, was jailed last year
for publishing state secrets involving Turkey's support for Syrian
rebels. The case sparked censure from rights groups and Western
governments worried about worsening human rights in Turkey under
Erdogan.
Turkey's crackdown since rogue soldiers tried to seize power on
July 15 has alarmed Western allies and rights groups, who fear
Erdogan is using the coup attempt to crush dissent. More than
110,000 people have been sacked or suspended and 37,000 arrested
over the past 3-1/2 months.
Additionally, 170 newspapers, magazines, television stations and
news agencies have been shut down, leaving 2,500 journalists
unemployed, Turkey's journalists' association said in a statement
protesting Monday's detentions.
Opposition groups say the purges are being used to silence all
dissent in Turkey, a NATO member which aspires to membership of the
European Union.
Turkish authorities also arrested the leaders of the country's
main pro-Kurdish opposition party on Friday, drawing strong
international condemnation.