Joint statement on the police raids and arrests of media representatives in Turkey

Turkish authorities arrested and detained thirty prominent journalists and broadcasters on the 14 December 2014.

Commentators saw the move as a further development in the dispute between the ruling AK Party and the US-based Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen

The EU issued a statement on the 14 December 2014 saying the detentions were 'incompatible with the freedom of media, which is a core principle of democracy'.

On the 15 December 2014 Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the EU to 'mind its own business'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Freedom of expression is no laughing matter http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-freedom-of-expression-is-no-laughing-matter/

BBC News, 14.12.14: Turkey media arrests: Mogherini leads EU criticism http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30471996

ESO: Background information: Visit to Turkey: EU to step up engagement http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-visit-to-turkey-eu-to-step-up-engagement/

EUObserver, 15.12.14: EU says Turkish media crackdown will harm relations http://euobserver.com/news/126912

ESO: Background information: Turkey bans reporting on parliamentary graft body http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-bans-reporting-on-parliamentary-graft-body/

EurActiv, 15.12.14: EU condemns Turkish raids on media http://www.euractiv.com/sections/enlargement/eu-condemns-turkish-raids-media-310804

Euronews, 15.12.14: EU warns Turkey over dozens of media arrests http://www.euronews.com/2014/12/15/eu-warns-turkey-over-dozens-of-media-arrests/

The Guardian, 14.12.14: Turkish police arrest 23 in raids on opposition media http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/14/turkish-police-raid-opposition-media

Cumhuriyet, 15.12.14: Pity for arrested uncalled for in Turkey (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE155331-Pity-for-arrested-uncalled-for-in-Turkey

Blog riotta.it, 15.12.14: West must reach out to Ankara (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE155315-West-must-reach-out-to-Ankara

France24, 14.12.14: Turkish police raid media linked to Erdogan critic http://www.france24.com/en/20141214-turkish-police-raid-media-linked-erdogan-critic-Fethullah-Gulen/

Deutsche Welle, 14.12.14: EU, US condemn raids on Turkish media outlets http://dw.de/p/1E44O

BBC News, 15.12.14: Turkey media arrests: Erdogan rejects EU criticism http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30484729

EUObserver, 16.12.14: Erdogan speech indicates deep rift with EU http://euobserver.com/foreign/126932

Deutsche Welle, 16.12.14: [Opinion]: EU must not abandon Turkey http://dw.de/p/1E5Ix

Sözcü, 16.12.14: Gülen arrests cover up AKP corruption (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE155403-Guelen-arrests-cover-up-AKP-corruption

Dagens Nyheter, 16.12.14: Turkish press freedom severely undermined (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE155394-Turkish-press-freedom-severely-undermined

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/genaff/146326.pdf http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/genaff/146326.pdf

European Parliament: Press Release, 15.12.14: President Schulz shocked at media crackdown in Turkey http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20141212IPR01101/

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