Turkey's Dogan, Hurriyet shares drop on investigation reports

Hurriyet Gazetecilik ve Matbaacilik

02/04/2015 10:08

ISTANBUL, April 2 (Reuters) - Shares in Turkish media group 
Dogan  DOHOL.IS  and its Hurriyet  HURGZ.IS  newspaper fell on 
Thursday after media reports that prosecutors had started an 
investigation after publication of a photo from inside a siege 
that resulted in three deaths. 
    The prosecutors office declined to comment. In its report on 
the investigation, Hurriyet quoted a journalists' association as 
saying the investigation "was against the principle of equality 
among journalists and the right to demand information".  
    The photo, published by four newspapers including Hurriyet, 
showed an Istanbul prosecutor with a gun pointed at his head 
after being taken hostage by two militants from radical leftist 
group DHKP-C. All three died after police special forces stormed 
the courthouse in an effort to release him.  ID:nL6N0WX348  
    Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu criticised the four 
newspapers on Wednesday and barred their reporters from 
attending the prosecutor's funeral, raising fresh concern about 
media freedom in Turkey. 
    "Two Dogan newspapers are named among those investigated. We 
are not expecting a significant outcome from the investigation, 
but it raises concerns that there will be political pressure on 
the group," said an analyst who declined to be named. 
    "We have seen similar tension between the government and the 
group before," he added. 
    Dogan Group was handed a fine of around $2.5 billion for 
unpaid taxes in 2009, seen by some critics as being politically 
motivated. 
    Dogan shares traded 5 percent down at 0.57 lira by 0908 GMT, 
while shares in Hurriyet were down 3.1 percent. 
 
 (Reporting by Ebru Tuncay; Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by 
David Holmes) 
 ((ece.toksabay@thomsonreuters.com; +90 212 3507052; Reuters 
Messaging: ece.toksabay.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: DOGAN STOCKS/