Turkish authorities appoint administrator to newspaper linked to cleric Gulen

The decision was issued by the İstanbul 6th Criminal Court of Peace at the request of the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which claimed that the media group acted upon orders from what it called the "Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure (FETÖ/PDY)", praising the group and helping it achieve its goals in its publications.

"We have now been threatened with confiscation through the appointment of trustees", Today's Zaman said in a statement on its website before the report.

The Gülen movement, inspired by US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen, is allegedly using its influence in the government to stage a coup against Erdogan's rule. It is often cited as Turkey's largest newspaper by circulation with more than 630,000 copies sold a day.

She told Reuters news agency that this move constituted "the practical end of media freedom in Turkey".

Hundreds of people gathered outside of the paper's headquarters in Istanbul in a show of support. "Crackdown on press freedom continues sadly", Kati Piri, the European Parliament's rapporteur on Turkey, said in a tweet.

However the government angrily dismisses allegations it is cracking down on the press, saying the cases against Cumhuriyet and pro-Gulen media have nothing to do with freedom of expression.

Amnesty International's Andrew Gardner said: "By lashing out and seeking to rein in critical voices, President Erdogan's government is steamrolling over human rights".

Known also by the initials FETO/PDY, the parallel state designates a clandestine group of Turkish bureaucrats and senior officials, allegedly embedded in the country's institutions, including the judiciary and the police.

The pair still face possible life sentences at their trial on 25 March.

Turkey has asked the U.S. to extradite Mr Gulen.

Cheryl teases with Instagram post fuelling rumours of relationship with Liam Payne
We're glad you're OK pet, but please stop playing with our hearts and just let us know your heart belongs to Liam , OK? "All love. The picture comes just days after Payne appeared to confirm the pair are dating on Instagram .


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