Police raid offices of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper, several detained

ISTANBUL

Istanbul police raided the office and printing house of the newspaper Özgürlükçü Demokrasi in the city’s Beyoğlu district in the early hours of March 28, detaining several people.

Özgürlükçü Demokrasi was launched after Özgür Gündem was closed in 2016 on accusations of conducting propaganda on behalf of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

During the raid of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi at least nine people were detained, according to daily Evrensel.

A number of media outlets have also claimed that the authorities have formally taken control of the newspaper, with an official from the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) telling the newspaper’s lawyers that a trustee has been appointed to it.

However, Evrensel quoted a TMSF official as saying they do not yet have any information regarding the appointment of a trustee to the newspaper.

More than 100 media outlets have been closed in Turkey since the failed coup attempt of July 2016.