Kılıçdaroğlu’s stance on operations against FETÖ-linked media outlets back on the agenda

The stance of former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu during the period of operations against media organizations linked to the Gülen movement has become a subject of debate once again. Judicial and administrative decisions concerning Zaman and Bugün newspapers, Samanyolu TV, Koza-İpek Group publications, and Feza Gazetecilik between 2014 and 2016 have been brought back to the agenda, along with the statements Kılıçdaroğlu made at the time.

The source text states that the movement was classified as a terrorist organization during the National Security Council (MGK) meeting on February 26, 2014, and that its media structure was targeted following purges within the judiciary and police. In this context, it was recalled that operations were conducted against Zaman and Bugün newspapers and Samanyolu TV on December 14, 2014.

It was reported that some CHP members attended press conferences against these operations, and that Kılıçdaroğlu likened this process to a "coup process," stating, "We will always stand by the oppressed." It was also noted that Kılıçdaroğlu objected to the removal of FETÖ-affiliated radio and television stations from platforms such as Tivibu, Turkcell TV+, Digiturk, Teledünya, and KabloTV in 2015.

It was recalled that Türksat cut the satellite broadcasts of 13 television channels and radio stations belonging to the Samanyolu group on November 13, 2015, and that trustees were appointed to Kanaltürk and Bugün TV, which belonged to the Koza-İpek Group, on October 28, 2015. It was stated that Kılıçdaroğlu went to the building in Mecidiyeköy housing Bugün TV, Kanaltürk, and the newspapers Bugün and Millet that same evening.

THE ZAMAN NEWSPAPER AND SAMANYOLU TV PROCESS

It was stated that the Istanbul 6th Criminal Court of Peace decided to appoint trustees to Feza Gazetecilik AŞ on March 4, 2016; Zaman, Meydan, and Today’s Zaman newspapers, Cihan News Agency, and Aksiyon magazine were also under this company. During this process, it was reported that CHP deputies, including Enis Berberoğlu, Gürsel Tekin, Barış Yarkadaş, Mahmut Tanal, Eren Erdem, Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Şafak Pavey, and Selina Doğan, went to Zaman newspaper.

The text states that Eren Erdem later said they went to Zaman upon instructions given by Kılıçdaroğlu through Enis Berberoğlu; and that Mahmut Tanal, reacting to Kılıçdaroğlu’s recent assessments regarding "FETÖ infiltration," said, "We went to Zaman on his instructions. If we are FETÖ members, then he is a FETÖ member too."

The complete closure of Samanyolu TV following the July 15 coup attempt was also included in the file. It was reported that Kılıçdaroğlu objected to this decision on CNN Türk with the words, "Why are you closing it, brother?" and when asked by Ahmet Hakan, "Should it be the organization's broadcasting organ?" he replied, "No, sir. Now look, those televisions are not just the organization's; I know that many people made news and programs on those television channels."

DEBATE OVER ADVISORS AND ULKUCU FIGURES

The article alleged that Kılıçdaroğlu worked with numerous advisors during his chairmanship, and that these individuals included those with Ülkücü (nationalist) backgrounds. Debates regarding the staff surrounding Kılıçdaroğlu, involving names such as Rasim Bölücek, Şükrü Karaca, Alaattin Aldemir, and Ramazan Kubat, were recalled.

Information was shared that Kılıçdaroğlu attended Ramazan Kubat’s wedding in 2021, that he was appointed as a chief advisor in 2022, that he was among the advisors whose duties were terminated in 2023, and that he was later appointed as the "Coordinator of the Re-Kuvayı Milliye Platform." It was stated that Kubat’s name also came up within the scope of the Ayhan Bora Kaplan investigation.

The text also evaluated the protocol made with the Victory Party (Zafer Partisi) before the second round of the 2023 Presidential election, the "Nationalist Call" campaign, and Kılıçdaroğlu’s contacts with Ülkücü opinion leaders in the context of criticisms within the CHP.

It was recalled that Kılıçdaroğlu defended his attitude toward certain journalists who were criticized in the past for their relations with the movement or their stance during the Ergenekon and Balyoz processes with the words, "I was defending law and democracy back then as well."

News Source: 12punto