Turkish court orders closure of pro-Kurdish newspaper for ‘terror propaganda’

Ozgur Gundem, whose print version has a daily circulation of around 7,500, focuses on the conflict with Kurdish militants in Turkey’s southeast and has faced dozens of investigations, fines and the arrest of correspondents since 2014.

The newspaper had been used to “make propaganda for the PKK and act as its de facto news outlet”, according to the court document seen by Reuters.

Ozgur Gundem has in the past featured the writing of Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK’s jailed leader, and has published columns by senior rebel commanders.

Turkey has closed more than 130 media outlets since a state of emergency was declared in the wake of last month’s failed military coup, stirring concern among Western allies and rights groups about deteriorating press freedom.

A Turkish official said the closure of Ozgur Gundem was the result of a court order and was not related to the state of emergency. The defendants could appeal, the official said.