BrassDragon
Member
Ebru Umar, a Dutch commentator of Turkish descent, has been arrested at her vacation residence in Kuidashi, Turkey. She writes op-eds for several Dutch magazines and blogs, usually criticizing the intolerance and sexism in Islamic countries and immigrant communities in a combative tone.
Shortly after her arrest she managed to call her editor to confirm that she's been detained for tweets critical of Turkish president Erdoğan.
As pressure from the Dutch consulate mounts, the police had her checked out at a hospital to prove that she's not been mistreated in any way. She's been kept overnight pending further investigation.
This is yet another blow by the Turkish government against critical voices at home and abroad using a combination of diplomatic pressure, litigation, repression and intimidation. The European Union's dependence on Turkish goodwill to mitigate the refugee crisis means European leaders, including the Dutch prime minister, are not as quick to condemn anti-democratic posturing as they used to be.
Alleged goatfucker Erdoğan seems to bet that the chilling effect outweighs the Streisand effect.
edit: English language source
Shortly after her arrest she managed to call her editor to confirm that she's been detained for tweets critical of Turkish president Erdoğan.
As pressure from the Dutch consulate mounts, the police had her checked out at a hospital to prove that she's not been mistreated in any way. She's been kept overnight pending further investigation.
This is yet another blow by the Turkish government against critical voices at home and abroad using a combination of diplomatic pressure, litigation, repression and intimidation. The European Union's dependence on Turkish goodwill to mitigate the refugee crisis means European leaders, including the Dutch prime minister, are not as quick to condemn anti-democratic posturing as they used to be.
Alleged goatfucker Erdoğan seems to bet that the chilling effect outweighs the Streisand effect.
edit: English language source