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Turkish Police Arrest Editors, Seize Publicaton After AKP Victory


Two top editors of a magazine that is critical of Turkey’s government were arrested on November 2 and the latest issue of the publication was seized, a day after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) won parliamentary elections.

The move by Turkish authorities came after the weekly Nokta magazine published its postelection issue with the headline: "Monday, November 2, Start of the Turkish Civil War."

The headline appeared over a photo of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the founder of the AKP.

The arrests follow an October 27 raid on the offices of a media group that is critical of Erdogan and moves by authorities to take two television news channels off the air.

Critics have repeatedly accused Erdogan and the government of eroding press freedom.

Editors of other Turkish publications that are critical of the government say they expect a period of heightened repression after the AKP won a parliamentary majority in the November 1 ballot.

Based on reporting by dpa , Nokta, and Cumhuriyet

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