TWO of Turkey’s leading journalists were detained today on what their newspapers said were false charges stemming from their work.

In another clampdown by the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, writers Timur Soykan of BirGun and Cumhuriyet’s Murat Agirel were arrested at their homes on charges of making threats and blackmail, stemming from an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Both papers have criticised the Turkish government and extensively covered events surrounding the March 19 arrest and subsequent imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which led to the largest protests in Turkey for more than a decade.

More than a dozen journalists have been detained at their homes after covering the demonstrations, which were banned by the authorities. 

Seven face charges of participating in illegal protests after police determined they were not engaged in “journalistic activities” at the demonstrations. 

Prosecutors have previously called for jail terms of up to three years for the offence.

During a search of the journalists’ homes in Istanbul, computers and other digital materials were examined, Cumhuriyet reported.

Lawyer Enes Ermaner, representing both men, protested at the early morning arrests and said arrangements had previously been made with the prosecutor for them to voluntarily make statements today.

“The detention of people who have made an appointment to testify and who are known to come to testify is not only unlawful but also clearly shows that Enemy Criminal Law is being applied,” Mr Ermaner wrote on X.

Citing the decision of the prosecutor’s office, Cumhuriyet said the two journalists had been detained “due to the possibility of the suspects escaping, destroying, altering or concealing evidence.”

The Contemporary Journalists Association said: “Even if the news about the illegalities in the recent operations and the news they wrote against gangs and sects disturb some people, we will continue to say journalism is not a crime.

“Our colleagues must be released as soon as possible.”