"We will not fall on our knees and won't tolerate those who try to misdirect Turkey. Now that we are getting back to normal, we are planting the seeds for a new Turkey, and those who want to change it – will receive an answer from us. The EU should mind their own business and should not interfere in our actions directed against threats to our national security," Erdogan said Monday, speaking in front of public in the city of Izmir.
On Sunday, Turkish police conducted nationwide raids, detaining 27 people. The raids followed the Erdogan's allegations that an influential Muslim cleric was attempting to overthrow his government. Among those suspected in threatening Turkish national security and arrested are the chief editor of the Zaman newspaper Ekrem Dumanli, the chief executive of the Samanyolu television channel Hidayer Raraca, as well as two producers and a scriptwriter. Several policemen were also detained.
Following the detention, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn in a joint statement condemned the arrests, saying they were incompatible with the freedom of media, which is a core principle of democracy.
