A mockup selfie of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan published in a magazine earlier this month had Turkish forces raid the outlet, causing further concern for the country's declining media freedom.
In case you couldn't tell, that's a coffin in the background being carried by soldiers and draped by a Turkish flag.
Nokta Magazine published the photo in clear reference to a recent statement by Erdogan that "martyrdom is a cause for happiness," The Guardian reported. The raid of the magazine follows recent high-profile arrests of journalists in Turkey, including VICE News reporters.
A Dutch journalist was also recently deported and a BBC report was condemned by the Turkish government as publishing PKK propaganda.
Nils Muinieks, council of Europe commissioner for human rights, quickly criticized the move in a tweet.
Ban, raids & arrest @noktadergi worsen already worrying situation re freedom of expression in Turkey. Authorities must keep the media free
— Nils Muiznieks (@CommissionerHR) September 14, 2015"These raids on domestic media and the arrests of foreign reporters are a disturbing indication of the worsening press freedom climate in Turkey," CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney said in a statement. "Covering the political and security upheavals in Turkey and the wider region is not terrorism. Calling it so is using national security as a cloak for censorship."
By Hayat Norimine
