25 July 2016•Update: 25 July 2016
By Kaya Istanbul, Muhammed Enes Can
ISTANBUL
Arrest warrants were issued Monday against 42 journalists in Turkey as part of an ongoing investigation into the July 15 coup attempt, a judicial source said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, the source said the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office ordered the arrests of the journalists, including Nazli Ilicak, a well-known Turkish journalist and former parliamentarian.
Five journalists have been detained so far, the source said.
The source also said a total of 11 journalists out of 42 have already left Turkey.
The source said the following suspects left Turkey before the failed coup: Abdullah Abdulkadiroglu, Bilal Sahin, Bulent Ceyhan, Fatih Akalan, Fatih Yagmur, Kamil Mamam, Mahmut Hazar and Selahhattin Sevi went abroad after the coup attempt, whereas Ahmet Donmez, Turan Goruryilmaz, and Ufuk Emin Koroglu had left the country on different dates before July 15.
Last week's deadly coup attempt occurred when rogue elements in the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically elected government.
Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,100 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.
Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.
* Diyar Guldogan contributed to this report from Ankara.
