Prominent journalist Ahmet Altan and his brother, academic and columnist Mehmet Altan, were detained on Sept. 10 for questioning.
Announcing the detentions, Istanbul-based Platform for Independent Journalism (P24) said the reason for the detentions was “Altan brothers’ statements on a TV show before the July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey”,
Ahmet Altan, a prominent novelist and former editor-in-chief of daily Taraf, is also on trial along with his colleagues for “leaking state secrets” for stories on an alleged coup plan by the Turkish military.
Meanwhile, Hürriyet reporter Arda Akin, who had been arrested for alleged links to the Fethullah Gulen network, accused of masterminding the July 15 coup attempt, was released pending trial late on Sept. 9.
More than 100 journalists have been arrested since July 15 in the probe against followers of the US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen.