President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey told the European Union to mind its own business after the international organization criticized his administration for conducting a mass arrest on members of the media industry, according to BBC.
On Sunday, raids carried out by Turkish law enforcers led to the arrest of more than 20 individuals. Some of those who were apprehended are network executives, journalists and television producers.
According to Turkish authorities, the individuals who were arrested were members of the religious movement Gulen. This organization has been criticizing Erdogen's administration for its corrupt operations.
Prominent members of Gulen use their professional careers such as news reporters and television network executives to expose the illegal practices of the government.
Speaking on behalf of the EU, the union's Foreign Affairs Chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn released a joint statement to condemn the actions carried out by Turkey's police force, Rudaw reported.
According to Hahn and Mogherini, the operation on Sunday violated laws protecting the freedom of speech.
"The raids and arrests are incompatible with the freedom of media, which is a core principle of democracy," the two said in a statement. "We expect that the principle of presumption of innocence will prevail and recall the inalienable right for an independent and transparent investigation."
After learning about EU's criticism, the Turkish president responded and said the union should stay out of the country's own matters, according to World Bulletin.
"No one has the authority to meddle into the steps taken by the Turkish security," Erdogan said during a press conference held in the province of Kocaeli. "The EU should keep its opinions to itself."
Erdogan then took the opportunity to lash out at the EU for failing to resolve its own problems with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group considered by numerous countries including the United States and Turkey as a terrorist organization.
"They should look at their own double standards in failing to punish members of terrorist groups like the PKK," he said.
