Police Raid Newspaper Offices and Arrest Prominent Journalists in Turkey

Turkish police detained dozens of journalists Saturday who are associated with the country's exiled opposition leader, and have reported on corruption allegations against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The arrests came just days after the Turkish government enacted a law that allows authorities to arrest suspects based on "reasonable doubt," and officially targeted individuals who were allegedly involved with a terror organization, though those claims appear to be dubious.

Police in Istanbul arrested multiple staffers — including the editor-in-chief — at Zaman, one the country's largest newspapers, the publication reported.

At least 23 detained in nationwide raid against media, police — Today's Zaman (@todayszamancom)December 14, 2014

Zaman is known for its ties to US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has led an opposition movement to Turkey's government, local newspaper Hurriyet Daily News reported. The raid came just two days after Erdogan vowed to combat Gulen's "evil forces," AFP reported.

The chairman of Samanyolu TV, which also has links to Gulen, was detained in a separate raid in Istanbul.

Mark Lowen, the BBC's correspondent in Istanbul, noted that the arrests came almost a year to the day after a corruption scandal involving Erdogan's government and inner circle was exposed, partly by Zaman's reporting. Erdogan survived the scandal, and subsequently declared war on Gulen and his followers, claiming they were plotting a coup.

"He used every tool he could muster, firing thousands of police officers and prosecutors, launching an endless tirade in the media that he's ensured is widely pro-government, and closing ranks within his party, sidelining dissidents," Lowen wrote Sunday of Erdogan. "This is stage two: arresting the critics."

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Detainees accused of founding terror organization, engaging in forgery, says — Hurriyet Daily News (@HDNER)December 14, 2014

Here it is police detain our editor-in-chief Ekrem Dumanli as fellow colleagues in the newspaper protest. — Mahir Zeynalov (@MahirZeynalov)December 14, 2014

The arrests prompted protests both within the newspaper office and out on the street, where Zaman supporters held up banners that read "the free press cannot be silenced." Film producers and former police chiefs were also arrested, allegedly for their involvement with terrorists.

I've updated — Ankaral? Jan (@06JAnk)December 14, 2014

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Turkish opposition leader slams gov't for arresting journalists — Today's Zaman (@todayszamancom)December 14, 2014

"The process we are going through now would not happen in a healthy democracy," Turkish opposition leader Kimal Kilicdarogku told a Zaman reporter. "The process that we are going through is a coup process."

The Zaman office was raided twice Saturday, first at 7am and then at 2pm. The first wave of arrests did not include the editor-in-chief — who tweeted about the action from his desk — but he was taken into custody during the second raid. Video of the arrests showed a raucous atmosphere in the paper's newsroom.

Officers back because of democratic reaction of my friends. I am at my place and wait. — Ekrem Dumanli (@DumanliEkrem)December 14, 2014

Zaman Editor-in-Chief being led away by police amidst wide protest. — Ozcan Keles (@Ozcan_Keles)December 14, 2014

Editor-in-chief of — Mohamed Hemish (@MohamedHemish)December 14, 2014

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After the wave of arrests, Zaman's editorial board released a statement lamenting that "today is an extremely sad day for Turkish democracy and freedom of the press."

"Despite government orchestrated intimidation and legal harassment to journalists, especially in the last few years, we continued doing our job consistently at all costs," the editorial board wrote. "Our only crime is going after major corruption incidents and authoritarian tendencies."

The statement noted that Turkey's press freedoms have been "in steep decline" recently. Freedom House, an organization that tracks press freedoms worldwide, re-classified the country from "partly free" to "not free" in its most recent report.

"Turkey's status declined… as a result of sharp deterioration in the press freedom environment in 2013," Freedom House explained. "Journalists were harassed or assaulted when attempting to cover the Gezi Park protests that broke out in Istanbul in May, and dozens were fired or forced to resign in response to their reporting on the demonstrations."

Turkey ranks 154th out of 180 in the press freedom index compiled by Reporters without Borders

The Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office released a statement maintaining that the arrests were necessary to prevent the growth of a dangerous terror organization.

"The detentions have been ordered [for the people on the list] order to take their testimonies on charges of founding and directing an armed terror organization, being a member of this organization, and engaging in foundry and slander," the statement said.

The US State Department issued a statement about the arrests Sunday.

"It appears that media outlets that have been openly critical of the current Turkish government are among the targets of these actions by Turkish law enforcement," spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. "Media freedom, due process, and judicial independence are key elements in every healthy democracy and are enshrined in the Turkish constitution. As Turkey's friend and ally, we urge the Turkish authorities to ensure their actions do not violate these core values and Turkey's own democratic foundations."

Follow Meredith Hoffman on Twitter: @merhoffman