The fire of conflict in pro-government media does not die down: Cem Küçük blasts Hande Fırat! 'One day she will be on good terms with Özgür Özel too'

The feud in the pro-government media is growing. The fact that journalists, rather than AKP deputies, are defending the government's policies on talk shows has sparked a new controversy in the pro-government circle.

Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Hakan was the first to bring the issue to the agenda. Stating that defending the government has been left to journalists, Hakan wrote, "Defending the government is too serious a job to be left to journalists."

Hakan's article received support from Hürriyet columnist Hande Fırat. In her article series titled "Now it's time to prick the needle," Fırat stated that politicians are not appearing on talk shows and noted the following:

"Unfortunately, journalists are doing proxy broadcasting in their place. When this is the case, the journalist turns into a political party spokesperson. Whether it is a media outlet close to the opposition or the government, unfortunately, we have all crossed the line."

Zafer Şahin, who appears as a 'commentator' on Hande Fırat's program, announced that he would no longer appear on programs on CNN Türk, saying, "I am not curious about appearing on screen."

Ahmet Hakan, meanwhile, attacked former AKP deputy Şamil Tayyar without naming him, saying "They are talking nonsense" regarding claims made by some journalists close to the AKP under the guise of insider information.

Şamil Tayyar responded to Ahmet Hakan on TGRT Haber. Tayyar said, "Ahmet Hakan has a tarnished record and is not a reputable person." Arguing that Hakan acts inconsistently, Tayyar said, "Yesterday he was cursing the government, today he is singing its praises; it is hard to predict what he will do tomorrow. If we are talking about talking nonsense, I think he is at the top of the list."

While the debate among pro-government journalists continues, Türkiye newspaper columnist Cem Küçük attacked Hürriyet, CNN, and Hande Fırat in his column today.

In his article titled "Don't worry, you are the innkeepers," Küçük stated, "Hande Fırat, who has no open support for the AK Party and President Erdoğan other than her function on July 15, has tried to give everyone a lesson in journalism! I claim that she did not write those two articles herself. She doesn't have the capacity for that anyway. How can someone who doesn't know a language give examples from the USA?"

Noting that the word "pro-government" (yandaş) used for the media close to the government is an ugly term, Küçük said, "But Hürriyet and CNN Türk fit that word perfectly."

"Journalists who defended the government and put their heads on the line in this country have paid serious prices. Those friends know that they will pay a price when the government changes one day. They took that risk," said Küçük, adding, "But Hande Fırat and those who think like her should be comfortable. They will always be the innkeepers. Because they take zero risk, one day they will be on good terms with Özgür Özel too. She will continue to enjoy herself in her million-dollar villa in the prime spot. She will never be lynched. Politics loved people like Hande yesterday, and it will love people like her tomorrow. Nothing will happen to you..."

The full text of Küçük's article is as follows:

"In Turkey, certain topics regarding journalists come to the agenda every two years. These are usually journalists described as 'close to the government'...

The detention and arrest of a few journalists as part of a drug investigation brought this issue to the agenda. Immediately, journalists close to the government were targeted! Hande Fırat, who has no open support for the AK Party and President Erdoğan other than her function on July 15, has tried to give everyone a lesson in journalism! I claim that she did not write those two articles herself. She doesn't have the capacity for that anyway. How can someone who doesn't know a language give examples from the USA?

Moreover, there is not a single neutral journalist in the USA and the West! Is Anderson Cooper neutral? Or Tucker Carlson? Sean Hannity? Is there anyone who doesn't know that the New York Times is deeply liberal?

Hande Fırat said for journalists, "let them call a spade a spade and return to their primary duties." Yesterday, Hadi Özışık described perfectly how I criticize the government and praise it when necessary. For example, on what issue has Hande criticized the government? Let her show me one example. 

I can show at least five issues in the last year where I criticized the government. Let Hande show one too, if there is any. But we know that if you ask, "which is the most well-known media outlet of the government today?", Hürriyet and CNN Türk are shown. The word 'pro-government' is an ugly term, but Hürriyet and CNN Türk fit that word perfectly.

Also, Hande said, "the background of the journalists who get on the plane is not good." I wonder what her background is? If I were other journalists and opposition members, I would never get on the same plane as Hande again. 

Zafer Şahin showed his stance and said he would never participate in Hande Fırat's program again. I think Zafer will not be on the trips Hande goes on from now on either.

On the other hand, how can a journalist be neutral when there is the FETÖ plague, the PKK, and military tutelage? For example, what does Hande Fırat say about the IMM file, the İzmir cooperative corruption, and the corruption allegations in the Manavgat and Antalya municipalities? 

If anyone knows, let them say. What does she think about Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma? Or does she bury her head in the sand and say, "What do I care?"

Journalists who defended the government and put their heads on the line in this country have paid serious prices. Those friends know that they will pay a price when the government changes one day. They took that risk.

But Hande Fırat and those who think like her should be comfortable. They will always be the innkeepers. Because they take zero risk, one day they will be on good terms with Özgür Özel too. 

She will continue to enjoy herself in her million-dollar villa in the prime spot. She will never be lynched. Politics loved people like Hande yesterday, and it will love people like her tomorrow. Nothing will happen to you..."