A court in Istanbul on Friday remanded in custody three former police officers and Samanyolu TV General Manager Hidayet Karaca on terrorism-related charges.

The editor-in-chief of the Zaman newspaper, Ekrem Dumanli, however, was released on Thursday albeit with a travel ban. Dumanli has continuously criticized Erdogan, labeling his government a corrupt regime.

"The press cannot be silenced, media will never succumb to intimidations," said Dumnali in an address to hundreds of supporters right after his release.

Both the Samanyolu TV channel and the Zaman daily are affiliated with the US-based Islamic scholar, Fethullah Gulen, who was formerly an ally of Erdogan and is now regarded as one of the Turkish president’s top foes.

Three ex-police officers have been also ordered into custody by the court while seven other suspects were released.

The court case and recent police operations on media groups have received widespread condemnation as Erdogan’s attempt to limit critical media.

Erdogan, however, has flatly rejected all foreign criticism.