The problem here is that while certain members of the Gulen movement in the police and judiciary must be tried for misusing their authority, the Erdogan regime has lately begun to condemn the whole movement – which has schools, kindergartens, charities, nongovernmental organizations and media – as a terrorist organization.
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“Dear viewers, do not be surprised if you see police in our studio in the next few minutes”, Toros said.
‘This is an operation to silence all dissident voices that the ruling party does not like, including media outlets, opposition parties and businessmen, ‘ Toros said. “This is true for anyone who does not obey”.
In short, Turkey’s already shameful state of media freedom suffered another blow this week – and more might be coming. “Everyone who made this decision and those who implemented it will have to answer for their crimes”, said CHP lawmaker Baris Yarkadas.
Anne Brasseur, president of the Parliamentary Association of the Council of Europe, said she was “deeply worried” by the developments, adding: “Media independence [is] of utmost importance for free and fair elections”.
“We will not be silenced”, the protesters chanted.
Police shut down the Istanbul headquarters of Kozi-Ipek, the parent company of the media entities, after the government moved to appoint trustees over the company’s holdings and change the leadership of the company.
The Turkish government said it seized the company because of an investigation on “terror financing” and “terror propaganda”, Ankara’s chief prosecutor’s office said, BBC reported.
The action has erased about 1.2 billion liras ($410 million) in market value from its three listed companies: gold miner Koza Altin Isletmeleri, energy explorer Ipek Dogal Enerji and miner Koza Anadolu Metal.
Journalists, politicians and human rights groups have come out against the latest round of mass arrests against the opposition media.
Erdogan hopes Sunday’s election will restore the overall majority lost in a June vote by the AK Party he founded.
Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, when he left the country amid growing pressure from a then strongly secularist political establishment.
Koza-Ipek CEO Akin Ipek denounced it as “politically motivated”, saying the government had failed to find any illegal activity during inspections of the company, whose businesses range from media to mining, insurance to healthcare and tourism to food.
Hundreds of police and judiciary officials suspected of ties to Gulen’s movement have been dismissed.
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Meanwhile, Gulenists have been at the forefront of corruption allegations brought against the government.
