BAKU: Azerbaijan on Tuesday shut down a private television channel over plans to broadcast an interview with Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara accuses of being behind the failed coup in Turkey.
Baku is an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has furiously pointed blame at his arch-enemy Gulen for the weekend´s botched military takeover. The US-based preacher denies any involvement.
Azerbaijan´s National Television and Radio Council said in a statement that it has "ordered temporary suspension of broadcasting by the ANS TV channel in order to avoid provocations aimed at damaging the strategic partnership between Turkey and Azerbaijan and to prevent obvious promotion of terrorism."
Erdogan wants Washington to extradite Gulen to Turkey, but US Secretary of State John Kerry has said that Ankara must produce evidence to support the extradition request.
The reclusive Muslim cleric lives in self-imposed exile in a mountain town in Pennsylvania. His Hizmet movement has a powerful presence in Turkish society, including the media, police and judiciary.
-
Japan Elections: Stock surges record high as PM Sanae Takaichi secures historic victory -
$44B sent by mistake: South Korea demands tougher crypto regulations -
South Korea: Two killed as military helicopter crashes during training -
Jake Paul criticizes Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX Halftime Show: 'Fake American' -
Hong Kong court sentences media tycoon Jimmy Lai to 20-years: Full list of charges explained -
Trump passes verdict on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show -
Blac Chyna reveals her new approach to love, healing after recent heartbreak -
Melissa Jon Hart explains rare reason behind not revisting old roles