‘Pool media’ court case against Zaman daily tossed out

Some of pro-government newspapers are seen in this collage prepared by Today's Zaman.
Some of pro-government newspapers are seen in this collage prepared by Today's Zaman.


Date posted: June 15, 2015

An İstanbul court tossed out a court case filed against the Zaman daily by the Turkuvaz Media Group involving a Zaman news article detailing pro-government businessman pooling funds together to purchase Turkuvaz late last week.

The Turkuvaz Media Group, which includes such popular outlets as the Sabah and Takvim dailies and the ATV channel, as well as the English-language Daily Sabah, has been referred to as the “pool media” since allegations surfaced that a group of businessmen formed a pool of funds to purchase the group on the instructions of then-Prime Minister and current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in return for privileged treatment in public tenders. These allegations are based on a number of leaked voice recordings, purportedly of Erdoğan and businessmen who were involved in the scheme.

The Zaman daily published a story in February of last year detailing this plan according to information on the leaked tapes, and Turkuvaz subsequently filed a lawsuit in an İstanbul court against Zaman, arguing that the latter was guilty of defamation. However, Zaman’s lawyers argued that the purpose of the story was simply to inform the public and the court ruled on Zaman’s side, dismissing the case.

The term “pool media” has also been used in broader reference to all pro-Justice and Development Party (AK Party) newspapers and channel. Many of these are owned by contractors with close ties to the AK Party who have been awarded lucrative contracts for major construction projects.

There is a widespread perception that these media outlets function as a mouthpiece for the AK Party and are maintained with the tacit understanding that lucrative tenders and contracts will continue to be awarded to the owners.

Source: Today's Zaman , June 14, 2015


Related News

Rule of law(lessness) in Turkey?

It turned out that I was overly optimistic, for I did not want to believe that a prime minister who bravely fought the old, authoritarian establishment in the people’s name for years could have changed so much, adopting just the same behavior we were subjected to in the past. I had thought that those bitter experiences were only a distant memory. Unfortunately, I was wrong — terribly so.

The Abant Platform: the Arab Spring and Turkey’s role

Immersion in the complex and often nuanced debates at the Abant Platform made everyone realize that the Arab Spring heralded a new era, not only for the Arab world but for regional and global politics. In fact, many were unsure about the prospects of stability and democratization in the short term, but were optimistic this turbulent process would eventually bring much sought-after normalization to the region.

Gov’t tries to frame Hizmet with secret statements from shady sources

The alleged government-plot against members of the faith-based Hizmet movement, disclosed in June by former Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin, was further instigated with questionable testimonies obtained from secret witnesses, informants and anonymous complainants leading to criminal prosecutions apparently orchestrated by political authorities.

Enes Kanter calls Turkey’s Erdoğan ‘Hitler of our century’ after airport detainment

Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter expressed his desire to become a US citizen and underscored a previous claim that Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the “Hitler of our century” on Monday in New York in his first comments since his detainment at a Romanian airport over the weekend.

New book examines efforts to link Gülen to every probe

A recently published book authored by journalist Nazlı Ilıcak tries to shed light on allegations that point to the faith-based Gülen movement as the driving force behind some ongoing trials in Turkey that aim to cleanse the country of anti-democratic formations. Ilıcak’s book, “Her Taşın Altında ‘The Cemaat’ mi Var?” (Is the “The Movement” behind […]

Woman says husband abducted after losing job in post-coup crackdown

A recently established Twitter account claims in a series of tweets that Turgut Çapan was abducted in Turkey’s capital of Ankara. While the reason for the alleged abduction is yet to be known, earlier tips submitted to Turkey Purge as well as a number of other media articles reported on several mysterious incidents of abduction involving Gülen followers.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

As Turkey Gears Up to Vote, Its ‘Traitors’ Speak Out

Gülen movement acted ‘courageously’ when gov’t-involved graft revealed, Altan says

Gülen says talk of raid against Zaman aims to intimidate

Once Shut Down By Taleban, Now Afghan-Turk Schools to be handed over to Erdoğan Regime

Pakistan Today Editorial: The Turkish connection and Turkish schools

Meat Distribution during the Feast of Sacrifice

Is the Hizmet movement statist or populist?

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News