ISTANBUL: A call by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to boycott media critical of the government is reminiscent of press curbs during military rule and could split society, journalists and business groups said.
Erdogan, embroiled in a clash with Turkey’s biggest media baron Aydin Dogan over reports of government corruption, this week told members of his ruling AK Party not to take home newspapers that print “false news.”
The row, which started publicly two weeks ago, has rattled investor confidence in Dogan’s firms Dogan Holding, Dogan Yayin and Hurriyet Gazetecilik.
“It is impossible to reconcile Erdogan’s call for a boycott with law and democracy. Our concerns are rising as similar calls have been made in the past during periods of military rule,” the Society of Turkish Journalists said in a statement.
The dispute has raised questions about press freedom in Turkey as it pursues its long-running bid to join the European Union. The government has introduced liberal reforms in many areas but still faces pressure from the EU, which has been looking closely at issues like media and human rights.
Dogan Yayin, which controls almost half of Turkey’s print and broadcasting media, reported on a trial in Germany involving an Islamic charity accused of embezzling donations and sending some of the funds to a Turkish pro-government media outlet.
On Wednesday, three senior members of the charity were found guilty and sentenced to jail.
