Turkish court arrests 12 former Zaman staff

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

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An Istanbul court has arrested a dozen former employees of a Turkish daily linked to U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen over the July 15 failed coup attempt, believed to be masterminded by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure (FETÖ/PDY). 

The 12 Zaman journalists, including columnist Mümtazer Türköne, were charged with having links to the group and its leader, Gülen.         

Türköne, Hüseyin Turan and Murat Avcıoğlu were arrested for “helping an armed terrorist organization intentionally,” while nine others were arrested for being members of FETÖ/PDY. Osman Nuri Öztürk and Osman Nuri Arslan were released with a ban on leaving the country. 

On July 27, Istanbul prosecutors ordered the detention of 47 former Zaman staff. Following the court order 21 suspects were held, while 18 have been remanded in custody since then.        

The newspaper’s management was taken over in March when an Istanbul court appointed trustees to the Feza Gazetecilik Media Group, which includes Zaman. The publication itself was later closed down.    
   
Feza Gazetecilik Media Group was accused of supporting FETÖ, which was blamed for the failed coup attempt.