Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 42 journalists as part of an inquiry into alleged plotters of the failed coup, drawing harsh criticism from human rights groups. But Erol Önderoğlu, the Turkey representative for Reporters without Borders, said the latest arrest warrant was an unjustifiable “witch hunt against journalists”. “Journalists are chosen as scapegoats because they are easy targets, they have started to become the target of veritable media-lynching campaigns in Turkey.” Although Monday marked the first time since 15 July that arrest warrants had been issued for individual journalists, there has been a marked repression of the media since the failed coup that killed 265 and left more than 1,000 injured. “In Turkey, we never witness that a politician is brought before a court of law, or that a politician is seriously self-criticising,” Erol Önderoğlu said.

Source: The Guardian July 25, 2016 17:39 UTC