Police raid on Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper

Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper’s headquarters building and printworks where the newspaper is printed situated in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu sub-province underwent a midnight raid by the police. The buildings were searched in the raids staged at around half past midnight by special operations police officers. Following the search that lasted until three in the morning, lawyers who went to the newspaper’s headquarters building in the morning hours were met by an official who had come from the Savings and Deposits Insurance Fund (SDIF).

 CURATOR APPOINTED TO THE NEWSPAPER AND PRINTWORKS

 From a report dispatched by Mezopotamya Agency, the SDIF official is said to have told lawyers, “A curator has been appointed to Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper that is brought out from within Engin Basın Yayın San. Tic. Limited Company and Gün Matbaacılık Reklam Film Basın Yayın Tanıtım San. Limited Company where the newspaper is printed.”

 In addition, the SDIF official was reportedly unable to give any information about the appointment of a curator and information is apparently obtainable from the SDIF.

 It has been learnt that an authorised person from the SDIF has been sent as curator to the newspaper and printworks.

 It has additionally been learnt that certain employees of both the newspaper and the printworks have been arrested. However, it has not yet been possible to ascertain who and how many people have been arrested.

 A reaction came from the HDP to the appointing of a curator to Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper. Stated in the announcement made on the HDP’s official Twitter account was, “The AKP rulership is trying through curators to take over the free press that it has been unable to buy, force to do homage or silence. The Gün Printworks where the newspaper is printed cannot be closed.”

 http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/949604/Ozgurlukcu_Demokrasi_gazetesine_polis_baskini..._Kayyim_atandi.html