Turkey's media purge after the failed July 2016 coup d'état

A few independent media outlets survived a crackdown under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since a failed 2016 coup. Now they too face fresh pressure as the government seeks to stifle criticism of its handling of the economy and COVID-19.

Turkey's Constitutional Court has rejected the individual appeals of journalists Nazlı Ilıcak and Ahmet Altan on May 3, finding no rights violations in their lawsuits filed for aiding the plotters of a 2016 failed coup attempt, while ruling for a violation of rights in the case of Ali Bulaç, a former columnist of closed Zaman newspaper.

An Istanbul court sentenced 15 of 10 former staffers of the shut-down daily Zaman to a range of jail terms on terror-linked charges on April 30. 

Turkish authorities issued arrest warrants for 110 people from a seized company over alleged links to the U.S.-based cleric who Ankara says orchestrated last year's attempted coup, Dogan news agency and other media said on Friday, quoted by Reuters. 

A Turkish court on Wednesday handed life sentences to 34 people for plotting to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a luxury Aegean hotel during last year’s failed coup.

The 34 were given four life sentences each at the trial in the southwestern city of Mugla, state-run TRT Haber television said.

Speaking at the first hearing into daily Zaman defendants on Sept. 18, Şahin Alpay, a former columnist for the now-closed newspaper, expressed "regret" at writing for the outlet, which had close links to the network of U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gülen.

Turkey issued arrest warrants for 63 people, including former National Intelligence Agency (MIT) personnel, over alleged links to the U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating last year's attempted coup, Anadolu agency reported on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

The police operation was launched in 21 provinces across Turkey, the state-run news agency reported.

Turkey's Recep Erdogan received control over intelligence operations. This happened after the publication of two decrees in the official government bulletin. Reports Bgnes.

Turkish authorities on Thursday issued detention warrants for 35 people, including nine journalists, on suspicion of links to last July's attempted military coup, the state-run Anadolu news agency said, quoted by Reuters.

There is no doubt that Aslı Erdoğan is one of Turkey's most prominent novelists, who has earned an international reputation thanks to her 18 books translated into many languages.