Council of Europe of Secretary General Jagland has commented on recent developments in Turkey in a statement released on Monday:

"It is highly questionable if the raid against Cumhuriyet can be justified as a proportionate measure, even under the state of emergency.

I am also concerned about the closure of 15 Kurdish media outlets through a decree-law.

I should like to recall that the European Convention on Human Rights continues to apply in Turkey even during the state of emergency. Careful distinction must be made between violent or terrorist acts and expressions of opposition or strong criticism to the Government. Freedom of expression constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society.

 If the state of emergency is used too excessively, Turkey risks a flood of cases at the European Court of Human Rights. "