Turkey: Behind the Scenes of the Zaman Newspaper Events

Media outlets and mass communications are undoubtedly one of the tools for guiding thoughts and perspectives, as well as enlightening and voicing the origins of people in various societies. In broader dimensions, they represent the battleground of ideas in proving legitimacy on a global scale. Therefore, restricting media and pressuring media owners is essentially limiting social development and depriving civil, intellectual, and ideological freedoms. The recent incident concerning the Zaman newspaper in Turkey has roots in previous events. Although it is claimed that this newspaper supports Fethullah Gülen's views and is considered by the government as a source of funding for his movement, the pressure on media is not a new issue and has been ongoing for over a year in Turkey. For instance, in the summer of 2015, Ahmet Hakan, a writer for Hürriyet newspaper, was beaten by agents of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) due to his critical articles about Erdoğan, and the building of this newspaper was occupied by government supporters, causing damage. Additionally, Can Dündar, the editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet newspaper, and Erdem Gül, a reporter and Ankara branch manager of the same newspaper, were imprisoned in recent months for revealing the transfer of trucks carrying weapons to ISIS in Syria and for publicizing documents related to oil smuggling between the Turkish government and ISIS. In the past month, the removal of 25 independent Turkish television channels opposing the government from the Türksat satellite and the order to shut down the Turkish Channel, Bugün, by the Supreme Council of Radio and Television (RTÜK) are among the substantial pressures against media freedoms in Turkey. The appointment of a trustee, or in other words, an appointed head by the government over the Koza-İpek media group, which is associated with the Gülen movement, represents another pressure on existing media in Turkey. The Zaman, Today's Zaman, Bugün, and Millet newspapers, along with the television channels 'Haber Türk', 'Saman Yolu', and 'Bugün TV', were shut down following a prosecutor's order in Istanbul. Subsequently, on Friday evening, a severe clash occurred between the people and supporters of Zaman newspaper and the police in front of the building of the Space Publications Joint Stock Company, which covers Zaman, Bugün, and Millet newspapers, resulting in injuries to many present. The Bakırköy prosecutor claimed that the 'Bugün Free' and 'Millet Free' newspapers are merely the same opposition newspapers continuing their work with a suffix added to their previous names and using the same logos and symbols of the old newspapers; thus, they ordered the inspection and sealing of the Space Publications Joint Stock Company. As security forces attempted to enter the building, the presence of people and supporters of the newspaper along with the staff of the company led to clashes between the protesters and the police. Security forces resorted to violence, using tear gas and water cannons, and beating people, resulting in injuries to many. In response to this situation, both domestic and foreign circles viewed the police's reaction as based on legal orders and considered the occupation of the Zaman newspaper building to be based on the prosecutor's directive. Even Ahmet Davutoğlu expressed this during his trip to Tehran and deemed the government's behavior logical. In reaction to this event, Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, the European Court of Human Rights, Reporters Without Borders, Freedom House in the United States, and some officials from European countries, as well as American officials and the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, condemned the Turkish government's actions against the media, framing it as a state coup against freedom of thought. Meanwhile, earlier on January 10, on the occasion of Journalist Day, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), based in New York, announced in protest of the 14 imprisoned journalists in Turkey that this country ranks second after Egypt in terms of pressure on journalists in 2015. Reporters Without Borders has deducted 11 points from Turkey's press freedom index since 2009, placing it at 149th in the list of countries that restrict media. Turkey's score in relation to press freedom is reported as 65 out of 100. Meanwhile, Nedim Şener, who was recognized by the Leipzig Media Sparcas organization as an outstanding journalist from Turkey deserving of the 'Press Freedom' award, stated upon receiving his award: 'Those who attack journalists in Turkey are products of the system itself, born from the core of the country's media. These individuals are nourished and supported by the government. Journalists supported by the government verbally abuse and threaten opponents with their pens. Therefore, our journalists either self-censor or become captives of the government or its accusations. This is the beginning of the game in buying journalists' pens by the government.' However, the important question is why newspapers are under pressure? Is the Turkish government's claim, especially President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statements regarding the restricted media being traitors to the system and the country's interests, truly correct, or are there underlying issues that need to be evaluated? The Justice and Development Party has introduced a new threat to society under the name of the 'parallel state and movement' led by Fethullah Gülen since the events of Ergenekon and Balyoz, which led to the arrest of many military personnel, judges, prosecutors, and some government officials and media agents. It has shut down all major companies, banks, news media, universities, and even schools recognized as community schools one after another. Consequently, the Zaman newspaper, with a daily circulation of 65,000, which was one of the most widely circulated morning newspapers in Turkey and the only preferred newspaper of the traditional Islamist pole in Turkey, was considered a serious threat to Erdoğan's government. The government, perhaps hoping to bring this media under its control and use it as an influential media outlet among the people for its electoral propaganda in the future, acted strategically. However, the following reasons led to the final closure of this newspaper: Publishing articles indicating that the current Turkish government is facing problems in its foreign policies and that its presence in Iraq and Syria is contrary to national interests. Criticism of Erdoğan for his allegedly fabricated anti-Israeli behavior, which is merely for propaganda purposes, as the current conditions in the region and political-security instability indicate Turkey's movement towards implementing the Greater Middle East project. Criticism of the politically-socially unsafe conditions within Turkey for the government's electoral success. Criticism of the Turkish government for losing many strategic concessions in exchange for entering the European community, such as losing Cyprus. Criticism of Erdoğan's preferred presidential governance system and accusing him of authoritarianism and totalitarianism. The government's belief that Zaman newspaper is a source of funding for the parallel movement and state. Several other reasons can be considered in the government's pressure against the media, especially Zaman. Meanwhile, the results of the current government's behaviors, particularly Erdoğan's, can be summarized in an article by Antonio Ferrari published in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. He writes: 'The violence and intensification of current pressures in Turkey indicate a political crisis at Erdoğan's base. The increasing insecurity in major cities like Istanbul, rising tensions between government forces and insurgent and terrorist groups within, the unresolved crisis between Russia and Turkey, the decline and stagnation of the country's economic development in the last two years, and the emergence of significant opposition from Erdoğan's own party members have led him to see his political position as threatened. The Turkish president, believing in popular support, has become excessively arrogant and politically proud. He is conceited and has a megalomaniac tendency, and all his actions against his opponents indicate the rising pressure of the political crisis on him.