Turkey Arrests 17 Journalists Linked To Gulen On 'Terror' Charges

Veteran journalist Nazli Ilicak is among those detained.

An Istanbul court placed 17 Turkish journalists under arrest for links to Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the government blames for this month's failed coup.

The court charged the journalists with "membership in a terror group" on July 29, Turkish media reported.

Gulen, who lives in exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, and groups affiliated with him deny that they are terrorists or that they had anything to do with the July 15 coup attempt.

The court freed four journalists linked to Gulen, who advocates for a free press, but remanded 17 into custody ahead of trial on terror charges.

Those held include the veteran journalist Nazli Ilicak as well as the former correspondent for the pro-Gulen Zaman daily, Hanim Busra Erdal.

Among the four freed was prominent commentator Bulent Mumay.

Based on reporting by AFP and TASS