ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s largest-circulation newspaper has adopted a more pro-government line in its first edition since a court ordered it to be seized, a move which has heightened fears over deteriorating media freedom in the country.
Police stormed the headquarters of the Zaman opposition newspaper Friday to enforce a court decision to place it and its sister outlets under the management of trustees. The step sparked two days of protests which police dispersed using tear gas and water cannons.
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The newspaper was linked to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s top foe, the U.S. based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Its take-over is part of a wider state crackdown on his movement.
The newspaper’s top story Sunday described how Erdogan attended a ceremony marking a key phase in the construction of a bridge in Istanbul.
WATCH: Turkish police raid largest newspaper as people protest about deteriorating press freedoms