Turkish police arrested for ‘wiretapping politicians’

Turkey's police conducted raids on its own members in several cities on 5 January 2015, mainly in the east and southeast of the country. The detained police officers were accused of illegal wiretapping, forging documents and violating personal privacy of businessmen, civil servants and politicians, including the president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The government also claimed these officers were connected to the moderate islamic movement led by Erdogan's rival Fethullah Gulen.

On the next day, in an unrelated move, a Dutch journalist was briefly detained at her home in Diyarbakir. Frederike Geerdink was taken to a police station for questioning as a suspect of creating propaganda for a terrorist organisation. The Dutch foreign minister, which was visiting the country on the same day, condemned the arrest.

• Primary Source

Deutsche Welle, 05.01.15: Turkish police officers arrested over illegal wiretapping http://dw.de/p/1EFFy

ESO: Background information: Turkish court issues arrest warrant for Erdogan foe Gulen http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkish-court-issues-arrest-warrant-for-erdogan-foe-gulen/

EUObserver, 07.01.15: Dutch FM condemns arrest of journalist in Turkey http://euobserver.com/news/127113

BBC News, 06.01.15: Turkey detains Dutch journalist on 'terror' suspicions http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30702508

The Guardian, 06.01.15: Dutch reporter held on terrorism charges in Turkey http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/06/dutch-reporter-held-terrorism-charges-turkey

EurActiv, 03.02.15: Dutch journalist faces Turkish court for Twitter, Facebook posts http://www.euractiv.com/sections/enlargement/dutch-journalist-faces-turkish-court-twitter-facebook-messages-311756

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