Turkish authorities to shut down dozens of media outlets
ISTANBUL Turkeys government has ordered the closure of dozens of media outlets including news agencies, television channels, radio stations and newspapers as part of its widespread crackdown in the wake of a failed coup attempt on July 15.
Authorities have suspended thousands of people working in the countrys judicial, education, health and financial sectors. But the move against media outlets escalated a campaign against journalists in a country that had once been hailed as a model of democracy in the region.
Nearly 90 reporters and columnists have been ordered detained this week, a decision the rights group Amnesty International called a brazen attack on press freedom.
The decree from Turkeys cabinet of ministers to close the outlets was published late Wednesday in the countrys Official Gazette. A state of emergency enacted after the coup attempt allows Turkeys executive to issue decrees, which are then sent to parliament for approval.
Earlier Wednesday, prosecutors issued detention orders for nearly 50 journalists and media figures tied to the Zaman newspaper, which was shut down at the request of local prosecutors in March. Forty-two journalists and columnists from various media outlets were also ordered detained Monday.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/turkish-authorities-to-shut-down-dozens-of-media-outlets/2016/07/27/d1c8454c-542e-11e6-b652-315ae5d4d4dd_story.html