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Germany's DW closure in Turkey sparks fears of pre-election media clampdown 

Deutsche Welle, which produces news in Turkish, will close its office next week after the government refused it permission to operate.
A picture shows the logo of German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) on a a glass at their head office in Bonn, western Germany, on February 8, 2022. - Russia closed the Moscow bureau of German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and revoking staff accreditations in Russia on February 3, in response to Berlin's ban on the German-language channel of Russian state TV network RT. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

ISTANBUL — The planned closure of the Turkey office of one of the country’s leading foreign news outlets has led to fears of a clampdown on the media in the run-up to elections on May 14. 

Germany’s public broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW), announced on Monday that it will close its bureau in Turkey after the government declined to extend its permission to operate in the country. The company, which produces news in Turkish, said it would close its office beginning Tuesday next week. 

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