Turkish prosecutors launch investigation into Dogan Media -Anadolu Agency (updated)

Hurriyet Gazetecilik ve Matbaacilik

15/09/2015 11:06

(Adds background and details) 
    ANKARA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Turkish prosecutors have 
launched an investigation into Dogan Media Group  DOHOL.IS  for 
alleged "terrorism propaganda", the Anadolu Agency reported on 
Tuesday, in a move highlighting the hazards facing media 
critical of government policy. 
    The reported investigation comes just days after offices of 
one Dogan newspaper, the mass circulation Hurriyet, was attacked 
by pro-government mobs who have accused it of sympathising with 
the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). 
    Anadolu said the investigation had been launched following  
a complaint against Dogan from a pro-government newspaper, which 
cited the publication of uncensored photographs of dead Turkish 
soldiers and an interview with someone who later joined the PKK. 
    No one was immediately available for comment at Dogan. 
    Such backlash over criticism of government policy, as well 
as President Tayyip Erdogan's frequent battles with the media, 
have helped to drive NATO member Turkey towards the bottom of 
global press freedom rankings. 
    Scores of people have been investigated on accusations of 
insulting Erdogan, who has become increasingly intolerant of 
criticism in recent years. 
    Turkish police raided a magazine on Monday over a mocked-up 
"selfie" of a smiling President Tayyip Erdogan with the coffin 
of a soldier - an allusion to comments that families of soldiers 
killed by Kurdish rebels could be happy about their martyrdom. 
 ID:nL5N11K3LM   
    Dogan Media is a unit of Turkish conglomerate Dogan Holding. 
 
 (Reporting by Daren Butler and Ebru Tuncay; Writing by David 
Dolan; Editing by Ece Toksabay) 
 ((david.dolan@thomsonreuters.com; +90 212 350 7046; Reuters 
Messaging: david.dolan@thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: TURKEY MEDIA/