Turkey Steps Backward

Michael Hedges September 12, 2009 - Follow on Twitter

That all politicians seek to control all media is an undeniable reality. Imperious politicians seek that control imperiously. Progress in press freedom remains illusive.

Turkish tax authorities shocked the media world (September 7) with a TRY 3.76 billion (€ 1.74 billion) fine on Turkish broadcaster and publisher Dogan Media Group. Virtually every media watcher has spoken out, if at least tangentially, about Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s war footing against opposition media and press freedom.

PM Erdogan faces little political opposition in Turkey. His Islamist AK Party is firmly in control of the government. A statement from his office denied involvement in the tax fine; it was the doing of the tax office. PM Erdogan and Dogan Yayan Holdings CEO Aydin Dogan have been in a pitched battle since Dogan owned media – the highly respected Hurriyet newspaper and two television channels plus CNN Turk – reported a scandal involving corrupt funding of Islamist organizations. (See background here) CNN Turk is a joint venture of Dogan Media and Time Warner.

Business leaders in Turkey are horrified at what appears to be a punitive ruling. “Everybody in their right mind,” wrote Vatan columnist Hikmet Bila (September 11), knows the decision is politically motivated. "This actual practice gives birth to suspicions that the tax administration is open to political influence and the public good is not observed in the exercise of executive power," said Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association TUSIAD in a statement. Aydin Dogan’s daughter heads TUSIAD. PM Erdogan’s son-in-law owns a competing media company.

The ruling, which might cost Dogan Media 80% of its standing value, was not well received in Europe. Association of Commercial Television Europe Secretary General Ross Biggam called on the European Commission (EC) (September 11) to address Mr. Erdogan’s government directly. “Any country wishing to join the European Union must comply with the highest European and international standards in the area of media freedom, including an absolute right for media groups to take a stance which is critical of government,” he said in a statement. “This is not negotiable.” (See ACT statement here)

Nobody needs absolute mastery of diplomatic language to understand the degree to which the EC is not happy. Accession may or may not be on the table for Turkey in the next decade but smooth relations with Europe are essential. Press freedom may not trump other issues in European Union relations but can be a nagging concern, raised by uncomfortable Member States.

“The Commission is very concerned following this new, heavy penalty imposed on the Dogan press group,” penned DG Enlargement spokesperson Amadeu Altafaj Tardio (September 10). “While tax irregularities should indeed be penalized, one can expect the sentence to remain proportionate to the alleged offence. But when the sanction is of such magnitude that it threatens the very existence of an entire press group, like in this case, then freedom of the press is at stake.

“The Commission had already expressed its concerns following the first fine. This latest decision is now even more worrying. The Commission will convey its concerns to the Turkish authorities and obviously also will take due account of this latest development in the forthcoming Progress Report to be adopted on 14 October.

“This news comes in sharp contrast with the very encouraging developments we have witnessed in Turkey over the summer, including on the Kurdish issue and relations with Armenia, on which we will obviously report as well in the Progress report.”

There is a rich tradition in Turkey of a vibrant culture of civil discourse: at times above ground, at times underground. There are also traditions of repression. The people of Turkey and their leaders are pulled in many directions. One direction they cannot take is backwards.

See also in ftm Knowledge

Media in Turkey

With roots in the East and branches in the West, media in Turkey is big, bold and sometimes government controlled. This ftm Knowledge file shows the size and the shape of this rich media market. 30 pages PDF includes Resources (December 2009)
Order here