Turkish police raid media company critical of government

Turkish police raided the offices of a leading media outlet in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police used water cannons and teargas to disperse a crowd who had gathered in front of the Istanbul offices of the Koza Ipek Holding group to show their support for the media outlet. The police also forcefully entered the main control room, causing disruption to a broadcast and forcing it off the air.

On Monday, an Ankara court made the decision to appoint a trustee panel to the media group, on request of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, claiming that Koza Ipek was involved with a “Fethullahist Terror Organisation”, a reference to the movement of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, an ally-turned-opponent of the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) government.

Koza Ipek Holding owns Bugun TV and Kanalturk TV, as well as the popular Bugun newspaper, which has been critical of the AKP.

Koza Ipek Holding Chairman Akin Ipek condemned the intervention by the police - and a newly-appointed trustee - and described the seizure of the company as “unlawful.”

A number of journalists from other outlets, who had been sent to cover the raid and show solidarity, were also reportedly harassed with the chief editor of daily Zaman claiming to be “beaten” by police:

Baris Yarkardas, Istanbul deputy for the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), who was at the scene, described the police actions as "illegal."

“Police tried to implement an illegal notice this morning. We said to them that those who took these unlawful decisions would be ashamed and judged for their unlawful actions,” he said.

The International Press Institute, a media watchdog, condemned the raid.

"This move is alarming, particularly given its timing, and it appears to be another example of the pressure on media that IPI and other press freedom groups warned about during last week's emergency press freedom mission to Turkey,” they told local daily Zaman in a statement.

“Not only does silencing critical media on the eve of an election send a chilling message to journalists, it suggests a distrust of voters' ability to filter information and make their own decisions."