Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan chairs a security meeting in Ankara on January 23, 2018. Kayhan Ozer / Presidential Palace via Reuters
BBC: Syria war: Turkey arrests hundreds for criticising Afrin offensive
More than 300 people have been arrested in Turkey after posting messages online criticising the country's military offensive across the border in Syria.
The messages condemning the Turkish military operation to push a Kurdish militia out of Syria's northern region of Afrin were posted on social media.
The users were detained for spreading "terror propaganda", officials said.
Turkish authorities warned they would prosecute individuals opposing or criticising the Afrin offensive.
On Monday, Turkey's interior ministry said that a total of 311 people had been held for "spreading terrorist propaganda" since the operation began 10 days ago.
Detainees, it added, included politicians, journalists and activists.
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Update: Turkey detains 300 people over criticism of Syrian offensive (Reuters)
WNU Editor: I suspect that among the Turkish population there is wide support for this military operation. Among the Turkish-Kurd population .... a great deal of dissent. But probably the biggest of this military operation will be in Turkish politics .... As Turkey fights in Afrin a different battle is unfolding at home (The National).
The number of body bags will determine the popularity of that invasion. Erdogan is risking much to gain much.
ReplyDeleteBrave Recep entering the war at the last second to open a second front over Kurds who have been fighting a long time.1
ReplyDeleteAnd he is puting at risk his US "freindship." I hope Trump has some pressure points to squeeze on this loser Caliph wannabee.
The Gulen Coup and it's aftermath killed off US leverage on Turkey.
DeleteThe US/NATO still relies on Turkey for:
-Inclirk,
- Access to the Black Sea,
- Access to Russia's southern flank and Iran's northern flank,
- access to the 'stans.
If Turkey allows us access as they have not in the past.
DeleteUS aircraft are currently flying missions out of Inclirk daily against ISIS and have been. P-8's, assorted SIGNIT aircraft and NATO ships are still patrolling the Black Sea, Longbow Radars are still peering deep into Russia and the 'Stan's, various and sundry antenna arrays are still eavesdropping on a vast array of SIGINT from Tehran to Omusk.
Delete