NEWS
EVENTS
Turkish Government Silences Media
Turkey’s leading newspaper, Zaman, faced a government takeover which led to protests from the public.
The paper printed one last edition in defiance of the takeover just before the building was raided by police after a court ruling placed it under state control, and stated that Turkey’s press had experienced “one of the darkest days in its history.”
More than 500 people were gathered in front of Zaman’s headquarters on Saturday, chanting, “free press cannot be silenced” before police used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to silence and disperse the crowd, wounding many.
One reporter, Abdullah Bozturk, said that attempts were being made to wipe the newspaper’s entire online archive, and the European Union’s response to this has been merely to issue a weak statement of concern. They have recieved criticism for taking little action because Turkey’s support is necessary in managing the refugee crisis.
The headline of the final edition read, “The Constitution is suspended,” going on to add, “Turkey’s mass circulation newspaper was seized despite Prime Minister Ahmet Davugotlu’s assurance that ‘free press is our led line.’”
Editor-in-chief of the paper, Adbullhamit Bilici stated that he believes, “Free media will continue even if we have to write on the walls,” adding, “I don’t think it is possible to silence media in the digital age.”
This is the third paper to be suppressed and bought out by the government in the last six months. What do you think? Is it right for the government to silence the media? Comment, have your own voice and let us know.
