Court temporarily shuts down daily Özgür Gündem over alleged PKK propaganda

The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that the Istanbul 8th Criminal Court of Peace approved a criminal court of peace magistracy’s request to temporarily shut down Özgür Gündem.

According to the statement, the daily’s closure was demanded for repeatedly making propaganda on behalf of the PKK and acting as the media organ of the organization.

Özgür Gündem has been repeatedly closed down in the past. The daily started a campaign on May 3 called “editors-in-chief on duty” to foster solidarity and defend press freedom against a number of investigations it has faced.

However, an Istanbul court ordered the arrest of three campaigners, Şebnem Korur Fincancı, Erol Önderoğlu and Ali Nesin on charges of “making terror propaganda” after they served as guest editors during the campaign but they were later released.