World | Thu Nov 26, 2015 4:08pm EST
Related:
WORLD
Turkey arrests two journalists on terrorism charges: CNN Turk
ISTANBUL
Two prominent Turkish journalists were arrested on Thursday on charges of assisting terrorists, CNN Turk said, after they published footage that purported to show the state intelligence agency helping send weapons to Syria.
A Turkish court ordered the arrest of
the editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet, Can Dundar, and the newspaper's Ankara correspondent, Erdem Gul, the television channel said.
Turkish media reports said that the two faced a number of
charges including membership of an armed terrorist organization and the publishing of material in violation of state security following the release of the footage in May.
Reuters was not immediately able to verify the reports.
The
video, purporting to show Turkish police opening crates of weapons and ammunition bound for Syria on the back of state security agency trucks, prompted President Tayyip Erdogan to vow revenge, saying he would not forgive such reporting.
European diplomats are measured in their criticism of media freedom in Turkey and Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian rule, recognizing the West needs Ankara's help on the migrant crisis and as an ally in the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State.
Europe is hoping to finalize a deal with Ankara - a NATO member and a candidate for EU membership - on the refugee crisis at a summit this weekend.
(Reporting by Ece Toksabay and
Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Ece Toksabay and
David Dolan; Editing by
Louise Ireland)
Read more at Reutershttp://
Turkey arrests two journalists on terrorism charges: CNN Turk| Reuters