Turkish media outlets fury over being blocked from NATO summit

ISTANBUL, Jun 25: Several Turkish media outlets, most of them pro-opposition, expressed anger Thursday after their requests to cover a key NATO summit were denied, with the alliance saying its accreditation process relied on recommendations from summit host Ankara.

Among those whose requests were rejected were the Cumhuriyet newspaper, Halk TV, independent online news site T24 and several others -- all of whom are known to be critical of President RecepTayyip Erdogan's government.

The rejection notice did not give any reason for the decision, merely noting it was "final".

The top-level summit takes place in the capital Ankara on July 7-8.

The move comes as the space for Turkish media outlets, notably those critical of the Erdogan administration, has shrunk, with a growing number of constraints on press freedom involving arbitrary fines, suspensions and legal cases against journalists on vague charges.�" AFP