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| Turkey media arrests: Erdogan rejects EU criticism | Turkey media arrests: Erdogan rejects EU criticism |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at the European Union after it criticised the mass arrest of opposition journalists at the weekend. | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at the European Union after it criticised the mass arrest of opposition journalists at the weekend. |
| "The EU should mind its own business and keep its own opinions to itself," Mr Erdogan said, denying that the raids had infringed press freedom. | "The EU should mind its own business and keep its own opinions to itself," Mr Erdogan said, denying that the raids had infringed press freedom. |
| EU leaders have said the arrests were incompatible with "European values". | EU leaders have said the arrests were incompatible with "European values". |
| At least 24 journalists said to have close links with a US-based cleric are being held for plotting to seize power. | At least 24 journalists said to have close links with a US-based cleric are being held for plotting to seize power. |
| Sunday's raids targeted the Zaman newspaper and Samanyolu TV channel, which are described as close to Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, the spiritual leader of the Hizmet movement. | Sunday's raids targeted the Zaman newspaper and Samanyolu TV channel, which are described as close to Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, the spiritual leader of the Hizmet movement. |
| A former ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Gulen - who lives in self-imposed exile - is accused of running a "parallel state" within Turkey. | A former ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Gulen - who lives in self-imposed exile - is accused of running a "parallel state" within Turkey. |
| 'Dirty operations' | 'Dirty operations' |
| In a statement, EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said any move towards membership depended on "full respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights". | In a statement, EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said any move towards membership depended on "full respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights". |
| The raids and arrests "are incompatible with the freedom of media, which is a core principle of democracy", the pair said in a statement. | The raids and arrests "are incompatible with the freedom of media, which is a core principle of democracy", the pair said in a statement. |
| But on Monday Mr Erdogan responded: "What do you [Europe] know about these operations to feel yourself competent to make such comments?" | But on Monday Mr Erdogan responded: "What do you [Europe] know about these operations to feel yourself competent to make such comments?" |
| "We have no concern about what the EU might say, whether the EU accepts us as members or not." | "We have no concern about what the EU might say, whether the EU accepts us as members or not." |
| He added that the raids had been a necessary response to "dirty operations" to subvert the Turkish state. | |
| Etyen Mahcupyan, chief advisier to Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu, told the BBC: "We have evidence that there was wrongdoing by some people in the Gulen movement. And we have evidence that these journalists are in the Gulen movement." | Etyen Mahcupyan, chief advisier to Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu, told the BBC: "We have evidence that there was wrongdoing by some people in the Gulen movement. And we have evidence that these journalists are in the Gulen movement." |
| The raids come days after Mr Erdogan pledged a fresh campaign against Mr Gulen's supporters. | The raids come days after Mr Erdogan pledged a fresh campaign against Mr Gulen's supporters. |
| Over the past year Mr Erdogan - whose Islamist-rooted AK Party has won three general elections since 2002 - has accused so-called "Gulenists" in police and the judiciary of using corruption inquiries to try to topple him. | Over the past year Mr Erdogan - whose Islamist-rooted AK Party has won three general elections since 2002 - has accused so-called "Gulenists" in police and the judiciary of using corruption inquiries to try to topple him. |
| Hizmet movement | Hizmet movement |
| Gulen: Powerful but reclusive cleric | Gulen: Powerful but reclusive cleric |
| Profile: Hizmet movement | Profile: Hizmet movement |
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