Nokta magazine ran a cover picture of the president and the words "Monday, November 2. The beginning of Turkish civil war. " Less than two months ago the magazine had suffered a similar fate following another cover critical of Erdogan. Yesterday, the White House had expressed "deep concern" over "intimidation" of media and journalists critical of the government.

Istanbul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The day after the election victory and the "deep concern" expressed by Washington over "intimidation" of media and journalists critical of the government, an Istanbul court ordered the seizure of the latest issue of the magazine Nokta, for a cover with a picture of the president and the words "Monday, November 2. The beginning of Turkish civil war”.

Also this morning local newspapers report that 35 arrests of officials and policemen, considered supporters of Fethullah Gulen, a former ruling party supporter, in self-imposed exile in the United States, accused of plotting to overthrow the government and the secular state.

Yesterday, the White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that Washington "deeply concerned that the media and individual journalists critical of the government were subject to harassment and intimidation during the campaign”.

The very next day, today,  the latest edition of Nokta was confiscated, accused of "inciting crimes" less than two months after it had been withdrawn for "insulting the president." At the same time, chief editor Cevheri Güven, and news editor, Murat Capan, were arrested.

The previous confiscation had taken place on September 14, for a cover - accused of "insulting the Turkish president " and "being terrorist propaganda" -  showed Erdogan taking a selfie near the coffin of a dead soldier. On that occasion, the police raided the headquarters of the magazine, Capan was arrested and put on probation.

 

• TURKEY
• ERDOGAN
• ELECTION
• victory
• media
• intimidation