The news media crackdown in Turkey threatens democracy

[Commentary] Autocrats often feel compelled to invent pretexts, no matter how unconvincing, for crushing their opponents.

In the latest round of attacks on the news media in Turkey, warrants were issued for the arrest of journalists in which it was stated they are suspected of nefarious deeds, such as plotting “to seize state power” or forming an armed organization to support terrorists. These trumped-up claims are intended to divert attention from a crackdown by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his critics and rivals. At stake is Turkey’s democracy. Erdogan ignores a central premise of democracy: that it is strengthened, not weakened, by competition. The noisy news media are not carrying out some dark conspiracy and not participating in a palace coup, but they rather are a critical part of a functioning, healthy political system.

Suffocate the news media, and Erdogan risks destroying all that Turkey should aspire to. Erdogan ought to reverse direction before driving off the cliff.