The European Union has sharply condemned recent Turkish police raids on a number of opposition media outlets in the country, saying such a move runs counter to the “principle of democracy.”
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn called for a “transparent investigation” into the police raids and the arrest of a number of journalists and media workers in Turkey.
Earlier in the day, Turkish media reported that police had raided a television station and a newspaper close to self-exiled US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, and detained a number of people, including the paper’s editor-in-chief.
Mogherini and Hahn further said in the joint statement that the raids and the detentions “are incompatible with the freedom of media, which is a core principle of democracy,” adding, “This operation goes against the European values and standards Turkey aspires to be part of.”
The police raids came days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled a fresh campaign against supporters of his ally-turned-foe, Gulen, vowing to pursue them “in their lairs.”
Gulen’s Hizmet (Service) movement was a main supporter of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) when it came to power in 2003. The alliance, however, shattered after dozens of the then premier’s political and business allies were arrested in police raids in a graft probe last December.
Erdogan denounced the corruption scandal as well as a string of damaging leaks in the media, saying they were engineered by Gulen’s supporters to undermine his government. Gulen has repeatedly denied any involvement.
Turkey has been negotiating to join the European Union since 2005, but its bid has been thwarted by vehement opposition from key EU members, including France and Germany.
