23 journalists jailed in probe over failed coup
ISTANBUL
DHA photo
A court in Istanbul arrested six of seven detained former employees of a Turkish daily over suspected links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) late on July 30, a day after 17 journalists were arrested on similar charges.
Sent to Istanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse after being detained, former daily Zaman employees and columnists Ali Bulaç, Şahin Alpay, Mustafa Ünal, Nuriye Ural, Ahmet Turan Alkan and Lalezar Sarıibrahimoğlu were arrested as part of a probe into those linked to FETÖ, an outlawed organization alleged with masterminding the July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey.
The arrests came after 17 journalists were arrested on July 29 over links to the U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gülen who is blamed for this month’s failed coup, charging them with membership of a “terror group.”
Twenty-one journalists had their cases heard by the court on July 29, with four being freed and 17 placed under arrest ahead of trial, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.
Those arrested include the veteran journalist Nazlı Ilıcak as well as the former correspondent for the pro-Gülen Zaman daily Hanım Büşra Erdal, it added.
Among the four freed was commentator Bülent Mumay and Hürriyet reporter Arda Akın, who was released on the condition of judicial control.
The arrests came after 17 journalists were arrested on July 29 over links to the U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gülen who is blamed for this month’s failed coup, charging them with membership of a “terror group.”
Twenty-one journalists had their cases heard by the court on July 29, with four being freed and 17 placed under arrest ahead of trial, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.
Those arrested include the veteran journalist Nazlı Ilıcak as well as the former correspondent for the pro-Gülen Zaman daily Hanım Büşra Erdal, it added.
Among the four freed was commentator Bülent Mumay and Hürriyet reporter Arda Akın, who was released on the condition of judicial control.