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Turkey arrests author over ‘terror’ charges

Aug 19, 2016 | 2:49 PM

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s state-run news agency says a court in Istanbul has ordered a prominent author and journalist arrested on charges of membership in an armed terror organization.

Anadolu Agency says Asli Erdogan, who worked for pro-Kurdish newspaper Ozgur Gundem, was arrested Friday after questioning by prosecutors.

Erdogan, no relation to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained with other Ozgur Gundem employees after a court this week ordered the newspaper closed for allegedly engaging in propaganda of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. Most were released but two other workers also face charges, Anadolu reported.

Erdogan’s arrest comes amid heightened concerns for rights and freedoms following last month’s failed coup. Thousands have been detained for their links to a U.S.-based cleric whom Turkey says is behind the coup.