December 22, 2014

The news media crackdown in Turkey threatens democracy

The Washington Post Editorial Board

AUTOCRATS OFTEN feel compelled to invent pretexts, no matter how unconvincing, for crushing their opponents. In the latest round of attacks on the news media in Turkey, warrants were issued for the arrest of journalists in which it was stated they are suspected of nefarious deeds, such as plotting “to seize state power” or forming an armed organization to support terrorists. These trumped-up claims are intended to divert attention from a crackdown by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his critics and rivals. At stake is Turkey’s democracy.

Zaman Editorial Board: No retreat from democracy

The Zaman daily, whose Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanlı was detained and then released as part of a government-backed police operation against the Turkish media and several police officers on Dec. 14, has released a statement on his newspaper's front page on Sunday, in which the paper expressed full support for Turkey's democracy and promised that there will be no turning back from from it.

Gülen says abusive language to cover up sins is hypocrisy

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has strongly criticized abusive language and remarks within pro-government circles insulting members of the Hizmet movement, saying this kind of behavior is hypocritical and is being employed to cover up their own sins.

Meaning and consequences of Dec. 14 operation

Cafer Solgun

The Dec. 17 operation clearly indicates where the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has taken Turkey so far.

The case of jailed journalist Hidayet Karaca

Abdullah Bozkurt

The jailing of Turkey's top national TV network manager using trumped-up and abusive anti-terror charges because his station aired a popular fictional TV series that delegitimized terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, is the latest in a series of draconian measures adopted by the authoritarian regime to strangle critical and independent media in Turkey, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member and European Union (EU) candidate country.

[News Analysis] Recent series of legal changes prove a plot against journalists

Hanım Büşra Erdal

The Dec. 14 police operation targeting the media, one of the most significant attacks on the Turkish media, had long been planned given the developments in recent years and the statements made by politicians as well as changes made in legislation to allow the detention of journalists.

Who is a terrorist?

Ekrem Dumanlı

The world was redesigned after the Sept. 11 attacks. Thousands of people died in the terror attack in New York, and all the Muslims in the world were held responsible; Islam was associated with terror after these attacks and all Muslims were considered potential terrorists. Of course, I am not talking about the formation of such a negative image overnight.

Accusing the Hizmet Movement of terror while backing al-Qaeda linked groups

Erhan Başyurt

The Dec. 14 operation is a blow inflicted on media freedom, law and our democracy. At the same time, it is an operation that is meant to ruin Turkey’s international credibility and reliability.

Pro-government media vindicates ISIL member

Emre Uslu

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has taken its fight against the Gülen movement, inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, to the next level. So far, the government and its media outlets have accused the Gülen movement of victimizing the military, civilian bureaucrats and business circles. Over the last year, they found people to speak against the Gülen movement. However, those who have spoken against the Gülen movement are all shadowy figures, such as the owner of the Metro coach company (Metro Turizm), well-known for their criminal activities, mafia relations and other wrongdoings.

Brave New Turkey

Andrew Finkel

Freedom House, the democracy watchdog, earlier this year downgraded the Turkish press from being “partly free” to “not free.” Now it may have to create a new category: “not free at all.”

US congressmen write to Obama, criticize media crackdown in Turkey

A number of members of the US Congress have condemned the Turkish government's crackdown on the media by sending letters to US President Barack Obama to express their disapproval of Turkey's shift to an anti-democratic path.

HRW: Karaca’s arrest harms media freedom, Turkey’s reputation

International advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) senior Turkey researcher Emma Sinclair-Webb has said the HRW is concerned about the recent arrest of Hidayet Karaca, the general manager of Samanyolu TV, adding that the arrest damages press freedom in Turkey as well as the country's reputation.

Crackdown on Turkish media protested around the world

The Turkish government's recent crackdown on media targeting critical journalists has been met by a number of protests outside the country.

The road to North Korea

Adem Yavuz Arslan

Everybody knows what is going on.

Threat to media

Nazlı Ilıcak

To save himself, after police operations into corruption that were revealed on Dec. 17 and 25 of last year President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan decided to target the Gülen movement. In other words, he relied on the same methods and tactics seen in the days of Ergenekon and Balyoz.

Destici: Silencing free media means silencing opposition

Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Mustafa Destici highlighted the threat opposition parties face when freedom of the press is silenced, during his visit to Zaman Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanlı on Sunday.

Red notice for Gülen would allow world to learn of Turkey’s judicial disgrace

Ahmet Gündel*

As part of an investigation launched on Dec. 14 by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against figures affiliated with the faith-based Hizmet movement, the prosecutor in question petitioned the İstanbul 1st Penal Court of Peace and asked it to issue an arrest warrant for Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who resides in the US state of Pennsylvania with permanent resident status. The prosecutor's request was approved and the court issued an arrest warrant for Gülen.

Extradition request for Gülen 'legally baseless'

The lawyer of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen made a statement on Monday about the “arrest warrant” issued by a Turkish court for Gülen, saying that extradition request has no legal bases.

Arrest warrant insufficient to extradite Gülen as int’l law calls for solid evidence

A court has issued an arrest warrant for Fethullah Gülen and requested that the scholar be extradited from the United States, which is seen as a step towards an Interpol Red Notice and ultimately extradition from the US, but US law requires that the crime be recognized in both country's jurisdictions and that the offense not be political in nature.

‘Arrest warrant’ issued for Gülen under article cancelled in 2012

Nurullah Albayrak, the lawyer of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, expressed the “arrest warrant” issued for Gülen under Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article, was cancelled by the Constitutional Court (AYM) in 2012.