On Friday, a court ruled that Zaman, previously linked to an opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, should now be run by administrators. Some believe worse is yet to come.
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The seizing of the newspaper also highlighted the government’s building campaign against those it perceives to be its two greatest enemies: opposition journalists and the followers of Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric affiliated with the newspaper who lives in exile in Pennsylvania.
Sunday’s edition of Zaman, Turkey’s largest-circulation daily, led with an article about what it called the “historical excitement” over a nearly-completed bridge project.
It accuses the movement of attempting to bring down the government. “Zaman Media Group being silenced in Turkey”.
Zaman published a defiant edition on Saturday, warning of the “darkest days” in the history of the press. Gulen and Erdogan were once allies but have since had a falling out.
Reuters news agency estimated that around 2,000 people gathered outside Zaman’s headquarters in Istanbul as administrators enacted a court order placing it under state control.
Turkish riot police violently dispersed a peaceful protest of at least 500 people in Istanbul on Saturday with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon.
Zaman Editor-in-Chief Sevgi Akarcesme said during the raid she was pushed by police as authorities escorted her out of the building.
The opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper’s editor-in-chief Can Dundar and Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul were released on an order from Turkey’s top court last week after three months in jail on charges of publishing state secrets. Many Hizmet supporters have been arrested.
“I hope we will obtain a result as soon as possible”, he said.
The European Federation of Journalists said: “The European Union can not remain silent to the political seizure of Zaman newspaper, Today’s Zaman daily and Cihan news agency”.
Riot police stormed the offices of Turkey’s largest newspaper on Friday, taking over the headquarters of Zaman and its English-language equivalent, Today’s Zaman, reported the Los Angeles Times.
A plainclothes police officer kicks a demonstrator as Turkish anti-riot police officers disperse sup …
“Humanity is under threat”, he wrote on Twitter, accusing the government of persecution.
The court decision sparked global outrage.
The U.S. and the European Union both criticized the move against Zaman.
But both Washington and Brussels are unlikely to put much pressure on Erdogan.
Robert Pearson, a former US ambassador to Turkey, told Al Jazeera the move to take over the newspaper was not unexpected.
The EU, which Turkey wants to join, wants Ankara’s cooperation to deal with the refugee crisis.
During a visit to Turkey this week European Council President Donald Tusk spoke of the “good and growing co-operation” between Turkey and the EU.
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Earlier this week, Turkish government-appointed trustees shuttered media outlets owned by the Koza-Ipek Group, another Gulen-linked company. Many feel abandoned by the EU.
