After seizure, Turkish paper adopts pro-government line

Court-imposed closure of anti-Erdogan daily Zaman heightens fears of country’s deteriorating media freedom

Turkey’s largest-circulation newspaper adopted a more pro-government line Sunday in its first edition since a court ordered it to be seized, a move which has heightened fears over deteriorating media freedom in the country.

Police stormed the headquarters of the Zaman opposition newspaper Friday to enforce a court decision to place it and its sister outlets under the management of trustees. The step sparked two days of protests, which police dispersed using tear gas and water cannons.

The late-night swoop against the Zaman newspaper also raised fresh concerns over declining media freedoms in Turkey, a key European Union ally, ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to Brussels Monday for a crucial summit meeting with EU leaders.

The front page of the paper, normally strongly critical of the president, on Sunday was full of articles supporting the government.

Zaman headlined an ambitious three billion dollar government project to connect Asian and European sides of Turkey’s mega city Istanbul by a third bridge.

In common with traditionally pro-government newspapers the front page also contained images of the funerals of “martyrs” killed in the military clashes with Kurdish rebels in the southeast.

In one corner of the new edition Erdogan is seen holding the hand of an elderly woman and the newspaper announces the president is due to host a reception for women on women’s day.

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Over the weekend, protesters chanted “free press cannot be silenced” and “Zaman cannot be silenced” as riot police used shields and fired tear gas to push back the crowd, sending demonstrators running into side streets for protection.

Local media said the court order was issued on the grounds that Zaman, a newspaper linked to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s top foe Fethullah Gulen, supported the activities of his “terror organization.”

Its takeover is part of a wider state crackdown on the movement belonging to Gulen, a US-based Muslim cleric.

Men run and cover their faces as Turkish anti-riot police officers use tear gas to disperse supporters in front of the headquarters of the Turkish daily newspaper Zaman in Istanbul on March 5, 2016, after Turkish authorities seized the headquarters in a midnight raid. (AFP/OZAN KOSE)

Authorities accuse the movement’s followers of infiltrating police and the judiciary and of orchestrating corruption allegations in 2013 that implicated Erdogan’s inner circle, as part of their alleged bid to bring down the government.

Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, was once Erdogan’s ally.

Over the past years, however, the government has purged thousands of civil servants allegedly linked to the movement and seized businesses affiliated to it. The movement has also been branded a terror organization although it is not known to have carried out any acts of violence.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.