Europe

Opposition paper in Turkey says editor, columnist detained

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Journalists and lawmakers hold a latest copy of Cumhuriyet newspaper outside its Istanbul headquarters after police detained chief editor Murat Sabuncu and two columnists of Turkey's opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper and had warrants to detain 10 other senior staff members, in Istanbul, Monday, Oct. 31, 2016, the state-run-Anadolu Agency reported, amid growing fears over Turkey's widening crackdown on dissenting voices. Cumhuriyet's headline reads: "The coup against opposition again." (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) (The Associated Press)

A security guard stands outside Cumhuriyet's Istanbul headquarters after police detained chief editor Murat Sabuncu and two columnists of Turkey's opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper and had warrants to detain 10 other senior staff members, in Istanbul, Monday, Oct. 31, 2016, the state-run-Anadolu Agency reported, amid growing fears over Turkey's widening crackdown on dissenting voices. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) (The Associated Press)

Journalists and lawmakers hold copies of the latest Cumhuriyet newspaper outside its Istanbul headquarters after police detained chief editor Murat Sabuncu and two columnists of Turkey's opposition Cumhuriyet and had warrants to detain 10 other senior staff members, in Istanbul, Monday, Oct. 31, 2016, the state-run-Anadolu Agency reported, amid growing fears over Turkey's widening crackdown on dissenting voices. Cumhuriyet's headline reads: "The coup against opposition again." (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) (The Associated Press)

An opposition newspaper says editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu and columnist Guray Oz have been taken into custody following raids at their homes.

Cumhuriyet newspaper said Monday police were also searching the home of the head of the paper's executive board.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported that Murat Sabuncu was detained as part of "an investigation," without providing details.

The detentions come amid accusations by opposition parties and human rights groups that Turkey is using a state of emergency — imposed following a failed military coup in July — to clamp down not only on the alleged coup plotters but on all dissenting voices.

The left-leaning and pro-secular Cumhuriyet is one of Turkey's oldest newspapers.