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Turkish police raid media group linked to Gulen
(MENAFN- Arab News) ISTANBUL: Turkish police forced their way into the offices of an opposition media company on Wednesday days before an election in a crackdown on companies linked to a US-based cleric.
Police fired pepper spray as they pushed their way through the front gates and used water cannon to disperse around 500 people who gathered in front of the offices of Kanalturk and Bugun TV in Istanbul to protest against the police action.
Erdogan hopes Sunday's election will restore the overall majority lost in a June vote by the AK Party he founded. Polls however indicate it is unlikely it will secure such a victory let alone the large majority needed to change the constitution and endow the presidency with the broad powers Erdogan seeks.
The media groups raided are owned by Koza Ipek Holding which has links to Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen. The authorities on Tuesday took over 22 firms owned by Koza Ipek in an investigation of alleged financial irregularities including suspicions it has funded Gulen whom Erdogan terms a terrorist.
The company denies wrongdoing.
'This is a coup against opposition against the media against our existing constitution and against freedom of enterprise' Abdulhamit Bilici editor-in-chief of the Gulen-affiliated Zaman newspaper told Reuters TV.
'Coups don't happen only by tanks or by generals. Now we are witnessing a different coup under a civilian umbrella. This will not be acceptable for the Turkish people and this will not be acceptable for the international friends of Turkey.'
Police fired pepper spray as they pushed their way through the front gates and used water cannon to disperse around 500 people who gathered in front of the offices of Kanalturk and Bugun TV in Istanbul to protest against the police action.
Erdogan hopes Sunday's election will restore the overall majority lost in a June vote by the AK Party he founded. Polls however indicate it is unlikely it will secure such a victory let alone the large majority needed to change the constitution and endow the presidency with the broad powers Erdogan seeks.
The media groups raided are owned by Koza Ipek Holding which has links to Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen. The authorities on Tuesday took over 22 firms owned by Koza Ipek in an investigation of alleged financial irregularities including suspicions it has funded Gulen whom Erdogan terms a terrorist.
The company denies wrongdoing.
'This is a coup against opposition against the media against our existing constitution and against freedom of enterprise' Abdulhamit Bilici editor-in-chief of the Gulen-affiliated Zaman newspaper told Reuters TV.
'Coups don't happen only by tanks or by generals. Now we are witnessing a different coup under a civilian umbrella. This will not be acceptable for the Turkish people and this will not be acceptable for the international friends of Turkey.'
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