Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told an international media body on Saturday it had no right to criticize him over his treatment of the country’s largest news organization, Reuters reports.
Tensions have flared over the past week between the government and the country’s largest independent media group, Dogan Holding, over its coverage of corruption allegations. The issue has prompted debate about press freedom in the European Union candidate country.
Press reports have focused on accusations that money from an Islamic charity in Germany was channeled to pro-government media outlets. A senior government official accused the group of instituting “media terror” earlier in the week.
The International Press Institute, grouping editors, media executives and journalists in over 120 countries, has condemned the government’s statements and called on Erdogan “to cease all attempts to pressure the Turkish media”. Erdogan hit back in a speech to supporters in Istanbul on Saturday. “This International Press Institute gave me its own kind of ultimatum. So I ask them, who do you think you are to issue me an ultimatum?” he said.
“Newspapers lie. Don’t buy them,” he said.
