Court arrests journalist Ahmet Altan in coup attempt probe

An Istanbul court ordered the arrest of prominent journalist Ahmet Altan on Sept. 23, after the former daily Taraf editor-in-chief was detained by police for a second time.

Altan was initially freed before dawn on Sept. 22 while the Istanbul court arrested his academic brother, Professor Mehmet Altan.

But the journalist was detained again after an arrest warrant was issued late on Sept. 22 on charges concerning his seat as editor-in-chief at daily Taraf. Altan was arrested on charges of attempting to stage a coup and being a member of the outlawed Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ), said to be behind Turkey's failed coup attempt of July 15.

Hours earlier his arrest, the court placed Mehmet Altan under arrest on charges of "attempting to remove the government or attempting to obstruct its work."

He was also charged with "being a member of a terrorist organization," referring to the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, who is accused of masterminding the failed coup attempt.

The Altan brothers were first detained on Sept. 10 and were two of the most high-profile figures detained after the coup attempt on July 15.  
   
Their case sparked an international campaign for their release with famous writers criticizing the government.
Altan now faces the same accusations in the warrant issued prior to his detention.

His brief freedom came after almost 12 hours in court in a marathon overnight hearing.

The pair were detained over comments in a talk show on the Can Erzincan TV channel on July 14, the eve of the coup which contained "subliminal" messages that the coup was imminent.

The broadcaster, seen by the authorities as pro-Gülen, has since been shut down.