Turkey’s largest newspaper toes the party line after police seize control

Turkey’s largest-circulation newspaper has adopted a pro-government line in its first edition since it was seized under a court order. Zaman’s front page, normally strongly critical of the president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was full of positive articles on Sunday. It covered a $3bn government project to connect Asian and European sides of Turkey’s mega city Istanbul by a third bridge. In one corner of the latest edition, Mr Erdogan is seen holding the hand of an elderly woman and the newspaper announces the president is due to host a reception for women on women’s day.

Internet has been cut off, we are unable to use our system. The Sunday edition was not produced by Zaman’s staff

Zaman journalist

On Friday, Turkish police raided the paper’s Istanbul offices using tear gas and water cannon to enter the building in order to impose a court order placing the media business under administration. The newspaper, which has an estimated circulation of 650,000, has been closely affiliated with Mr Erdogan’s enemy, exiled Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen. In its last edition that went to print before its takeover, the newspaper warned of the “darkest days” in the history of the Turkish press. On Saturday police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse a group of the paper’s supporters who were clapping in protest.

If anyone was wondering if there were going to be serious changes to the tone or editorial stance of Zaman, well they got their answer on Sunday morning. This used to be an opposition paper

Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Jamjoom

zaman