Turkish seizure of daily raises concern

 German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday voiced concern over the takeover by Turkish authorities of a leading newspaper and said the issue would be raised with Turkey's premier.

Turkish police on Friday seized control of the top-selling Zaman, which opposes President Recep Tayyib Erdogan, drawing condemnation from the European Union, the United States and Russia, as well as international media watchdogs.

"We are monitoring this with concern," Steinmeier told reporters in Abu Dhabi, according to an English-language translation of his remarks.

He said the issue would be raised with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu who was in Brussels on Monday for a crucial summit meeting with EU leaders on Europe's migrant crisis.

Press freedom campaigners have urged the EU not to compromise on fundamental values in return for Ankara's cooperation in tackling the crisis.

Zaman, closely linked to Erdogan’s arch-foe, US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, was placed under administration under a court order which critics said was part of efforts to silence opposition media.

Zaman has an estimated circulation of 650,000.

Ankara accuses Gulen of running what it calls the Fethullahci Terror Organisation/Parallel State Structure (FeTO/PDY) and seeking to overthrow the legitimate Turkish authorities.

Turkish media said the court order was issued on the grounds that Zaman supported the activities of this "terror organisation".
Source: AFP