Feza Publications

Turkish police dispersed a crowd of Zaman media group supporters on March 5, a day after an Istanbul court appointed a trustee panel to seize control of the group which has links to U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who is accused of leading a "terrorist organization" aiming to topple the government. 

Police dispersed a crowd tMarch 5 hat gathered in front of the Zaman media group, control of which was taken over by a board of trustees late on March 4, following an Istanbul court decision.

Police used tear gas to disperse the supporters of the group  linked to U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen before the protesters ran to the side streets.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby has named a recent court decision to appoint a board of trustees to Zaman media group "troubling," as the European Union also criticized Turkey for media freedom.

The 6th Istanbul Criminal Court of Peace ruled to appoint a trustee panel to the Zaman media group on March 4, following a request by the Istanbul Prosecutors' Office within the framework of a probe against the an "Fethullahist Terror Organization" (FETÖ). 

A trustee panel has been appointed to a media group considered to be linked to U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who the Turkish president accuses of heading a "terrorist organization" aiming to topple the government.

Turkish police have raided the Istanbul offices of Feza Publications for printing an imitation of dailies Bugün and Millet called "Özgür Bugün" and "Özgür Millet" ("Özgür" meaning "free" in Turkish), referring to a Koza-?pek Group newspaper which adopted a pro-government stance after a caretaker took control of its management. 

Seven TV channels, including a children?s station, which belong to companies that are known to be close to the Fethullah Gülen movement, have been removed from one of Turkey?s leading pay satellite network and TV operators, Digitürk. 

Digitürk said in a statement on its website that they had removed the seven TV channels due to ?legal obligations.?

Ekrem Dumanl?, editor-in-chief of Daily Zaman, announced his resignation on Oct. 5 due to ?unlawful pressure on press and his personality.?

A group of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies, under the leadership of CHP deputy chairman Sezgin Tanr?kulu, has applied to the Justice Ministry to visit Hidayet Karaca, the CEO of the Samanyolu Media Group, on Feb. 9.

Turkish police raided the Zaman media group headquarters in Istanbul on Dec. 14, as part of an operation anticipated for the last few days.