Turkish riot police firing tear gas and
water cannon on Wednesday stormed into the Istanbul headquarters of a media
group critical of the government, just days before a weekend election.
The move followed a controversial court ruling
ordering the seizure of the conglomerate linked to US-exiled cleric Fethullah
Gulen, regarded as the nemesis of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Images of the police action, which saw officers smash
through the gates of the compound with chainsaws, were broadcast live on the
group’s television stations, Bugun and Kanalturk.
Brawls also broke out outside the compound, prompting
police to use tear gas and batons against the demonstrators, including
lawmakers from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
Several arrests were made, the private NTV television
channel reported.
CHP lawmaker Mahmut Tanal and Tarik Toros were seen
negotiating with police chiefs who tried to cut the live broadcast.
‘We will not be silenced’
“Dear viewers, do not be surprised if you see police
in our studio in the next few minutes,” Toros said.
An Ankara court on Monday appointed a board of
trustees to manage the Koza-Ipek Group, seizing its 21 companies, including its
media operations, as part of a crackdown on Gulen’s followers.
The move triggered demonstrations in both Ankara and
Istanbul on Tuesday, with protesters chanting: “We will not be silenced.”
The United States also weighed in to the controversy,
voicing concern about media freedom in Turkey.
“When there is a reduction in the range of viewpoints
available to citizens, especially before an election, it is a matter of
concern,” the US embassy in Ankara said in a tweet on Tuesday.
Ankara chief prosecutor’s office said in a statement
the seizure was linked to an ongoing investigation into the conglomerate on
suspicion of “terror financing,” “terror propaganda” and other offences related
to Koza-Ipek’s support for Gulen’s Hizmet (Service) movement.
Koza-Ipek CEO Akin Ipek denounced the move as “politically
motivated,” saying the government had failed to find any illegal activity
during inspections of the company, whose businesses include media, energy,
mining and construction.
Media rights groups have expressed concern over a
further decline in press freedom since Erdogan became president in August last
year after more than a decade as premier.
International journalists have been arrested and
deported, while about 20 are currently detained on a variety of charges.
Turkish authorities have also ramped up their campaign
against Pennsylvania-based Gulen in recent months.
Police in September raided Koza-Ipek’s media
companies, briefly detaining six people including its CEO as part of a
“terrorism probe” into the 74-year-old cleric.
Erdogan accuses Gulen of trying to topple him by
persuading allies in Turkey’s police and judiciary to launch a vast probe into
government corruption in December 2013, which led to the resignation of four
ministers.
Turkey’s authorities responded by purging both the
police force and judiciary of pro-Gulen elements and arresting news editors and
businessmen.
0 comments:
Post a Comment