Critics of President Tayyip Erdogan argue he is using the failed July 15-16 coup as a pretext to muzzle dissent and tighten his grip on power.
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The decree Wednesday targeted three news agencies, 16 television channels, 23 radio stations and 45 newspapers. This, in addition to issuing detainment orders against 47 journalists.
“Rather than stifling press freedom and intimidating journalists into silence, it is vital that Turkish authorities allow the media to do their work”, she said, “and end this draconian clampdown on freedom of expression”.
In remarks made to the media before his meeting with Turkish-origin Kosovar politician Mahir Yagcilar at the Cankaya Palace in Ankara on Wednesday, Kurtulmus said: “These coup-plotting terrorists [involved in the July 15 coup attempt] will be purged from state institutions”, he said.
The Turkish daily reported that Campbell had top secret meetings at the Erzurum military base and Incirlik air base in Turkey, adding that the USA general “directed the process of trending / blacklisting the military officers in the base”.
A senior Turkish official described the purges as “dishonorable discharge”.
The military’s statement on the matter went on to say that 35 warplanes, 37 attack helicopters, 37 tanks, and 246 armored vehicles were used in the attempt.
Mr Gulen, who lives in the United States and runs a global network of schools and foundations, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the coup attempt.
So far, 10,012 soldiers have been detained as a part of the investigation into the coup attempt, which left at least 290 people, including more than 100 “coup plotters”, killed, authorities said.
Also to be shut are the Zaman newspaper and its Today s Zaman English language sister publication which, like Cihan, were part of a holding linked to Gulen until being put into state administration earlier this year.
Turkey has branded his movement a terror organization and Albayrak claimed the Gulen group was “more dangerous” than the Islamic State group or the Kurdish rebels who have carried out deadly suicide bombings in the country in the past year. A government official later said some 3,000 people who were detained have been released.
He warned that a lack of support for Turkey could harm ties with allies.
On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said talks with Russian officials this week on improving bilateral relations had taken place “in a very positive atmosphere”.
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Standard & Poor’s recently revised the country’s sovereign debt outlook to negative from stable and Moody’s has said it will review the rating for a possible downgrade.
