Turkey Shuts 130 Media Outlets In Post-Coup Purge
The media finds itself in the firing line as the government dramatically accelerates its post-coup crackdown on "dissidents".
Thursday 28 July 2016 11:39, UK
The Turkish government has ordered the closure of more than 130 media outlets amid a deepening crackdown following this month's failed coup.
Three news agencies, 16 television stations, 23 radio stations, 45 newspapers, 15 magazines and 29 publishers are among those that have been shut down.
It follows the closure of other media outlets including the Cihan news agency which are suspected of links to US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the government has accused of masterminding the 15 July plot to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Authorities handed out arrest warrants for 42 journalists earlier this week as part of the crackdown on alleged supporters of Mr Gulen.
On Wednesday, more were issued for the detention of another 47 employees from the now defunct Zaman newspaper.
The United States has described the targeting of journalists as a "troubling trend".
Since the attempted coup, more than 60,000 soldiers, police, teachers, judges, civil servants and others have been detained, suspended, or placed under investigation.
Nearly 1,700 military personnel have also been fired - including 149 generals and admirals.
The move comes as Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildrim on Thursday met the country's remaining top military commanders to discuss a radical shake-up of its armed forces.
Attending the hastily convened meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) in Ankara were land, sea and air force commanders, along with other top brass untarnished by the attempted power grab.
Ahead of the sit down two of the country's four-star generals - Kamil Basoglu and Ihsan Uyar - announced their resignations.