Turkey has ordered the detention of 42 journalists under a crackdown following a failed coup.
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Turkey has ordered the detention of 42 journalists under a crackdown following a failed coup.
Arrests of soldiers, police, judges and civil servants have raised concerns.
Rights groups and Western countries fear Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is taking advantage of the failed coup to tighten his grip on power.
Amnesty International says it’s seen credible evidence of detainees being beaten and tortured.
“We’ve been told of ill treatment ranging from verbal abuse, threats, to leaving people without food for days or even water for days,” said :Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International Turkey researcher. “Keeping people in stress positions like keeping people on their knees for long periods of time. Handcuffing them behind their backs for a long period of time, to physical abuse such as beatings and even in the severest of cases instances of rape in detention as well.”
Turkey’s justice minister denies the torture allegations.
Erdogan has declared a state of emergency, allowing him to introduce new laws without approval from parliament. It also lets him limit people’s rights as he deems necessary.
Ankara’s aspirations to join the EU have been questioned by the European Commission president.
Jean-Claude Juncker told French television that Turkey is in no position to become a member any time soon.