Watch out for Freedom of the Media in Turkey

Since accessing power in 2003, the Justice and Development party (AKP – an Islamist party) has gained tremendous control over the media in Turkey. In 2003, one third of the media were controlled by “friends” of the AKP party. Today, it is over half of them. Nevertheless, this is not enough for the AKP party, led by Abdullah Gul. Thus, his government recently fined the biggest media tycoon Aydin Dogan, a political opponent supporter, on the ground of tax-evasion. Knowing that tax evasion is prevalent practice in Turkey, it is probable that Aydin Dogan did not fully comply with the tax code. But the issue lays in the amount of the fine, equivalent to $3.2 billion, which way above the net worth of Aydin Dogan. Therefore, many view this act as a way to cut opposition media before the general election which will be held as early as next year.