Turkish PM Erdoğan goes too far in fight against media, say observers

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan went too far in criticizing media this time, international press organizations and foreign diplomats said. His open fight against journalists has been found to be contrary to his commitments to the country's EU bid.

“Although this is not the first time the prime minister has criticized the media; the comments he made are extremely worrying. Because what he seems to be suggesting if I understand correctly is that newspapers get rid of columnists who overstep boundaries that are defined by him,” said Anthony Mills Press Freedom Manager for the international press institute, or IPI, in an interview with Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review on Monday.

“The media is free as long as they do not criticize him in ways he does not like,” Mills said. “He also appears to imply that he has the status as PM and columnists have a status that prohibits them from engaging in certain counter criticism.”

The governmental pressure on media is contradictory to the fundamental pillars of democracy and contrary to the established EU road map that Turkey has committed itself to, Mills said.

“The EU has expressed concern about the state of media freedom in Turkey and the government’s commitment to ensuring media freedom,” Mills said. The European Parliament’s recent report also indicated its growing concern over media limitation.

It is not the first time Erdoğan declared war against media. He has previously urged his supporters not to buy specific newspapers owned by the Doğan Media Group.

“We have seen him question the patriotism of journalists that criticize him. We have seen a very well published dispute between him and the Doğan Media Group. The size of the tax fine against the group puts in question the proportionality of it all and suggests there are other motives,” Mills said.

Mills defined Erdoğan’s call as “intimidation of the media” and underlined “the columnist that carries on with criticism runs the risk that his boss may be put under pressure to get rid of him or her.”

Public criticism is a vital part of balanced democracy as it pushes politicians to check their policies, Mills said. The prime minister’s slam is “very unfortunate and a troubling situation” for democracy, he said.

Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, had also expressed concern over the "unprecedented" fine imposed on the Doğan Media Group in Turkey.

"OSCE commitments expect governments to provide the necessary conditions for a pluralistic press, and practice self-restraint in employing the State's legal power when dealing with the press, especially toward media offering critical voices," said Haraszti in a letter to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in September 2009.

His office avoided specifically commenting Monday on Erdoğan's recent remarks, but underlined that Turkey has been monitored and follow-up reports would be published.

European diplomats shocked, but silent

A number of EU diplomats contacted by the Daily News refused to comment on the record and chose to remain anonymous out of concern for drawing reaction from Turkish officials.

A European diplomat working in Ankara expressed “shock and concern” but commented requesting anonymity. “This is not the first time Erdoğan has pressured the media. It shouldn’t be the way a prime minister defends himself. We are concerned.” Highlighting such a threat or pressure is not admissible in Europe, the source said, adding that Erdoğan’s attitude contradicts the country’s EU bid.

“Freedom of media is very clear based on international conventions. A few weeks ago when Erdoğan met with EU ambassadors at a luncheon, he stressed he had the right to criticize just like journalists. But what happened on Friday is something too different,” said an ambassador on condition of anonymity.

EU involvement or criticism over individual statements by politicians might make the situation more difficult, the ambassador said.