The Prosecutor Asks Why Zaman's Editor Published Two Columns And A News Article

As part of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government's efforts to crack down on independent media outlets that are critical of the government, Ekrem Dumanlı, the editor-in-chief of the nation's best-selling daily, has been charged with "establishing and administrating an armed organization" under anti-terrorism legislation based on two op-ed pieces and one article published in his newspaper five years ago. Zaman allegedly published stories defaming suspected members of an al-Qaeda-linked group, while several episodes of Samanyolu TV soap operas condemned the group for its call to violence and solidarity with al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

However, a Turkish court ruled on Friday to release Dumanlı, five days after he was detained following his interrogation. Dumanlı responded to the charges by saying he has been professionally managing the newspaper for the last 13 years and does not have any personal involvement with articles critical of the government written by columnists that are regular contributors to the paper.

Upon his release, Dumanlı said he responded to the prosecutor by saying that it is not the prosecutor's business to question what articles and news stories he should run.

However, the court ruled that four people -- including Samanyolu TV General Manager Hidayet Karaca, who was also charged under anti-terrorism legislation -- are to be arrested pending trial. The government-backed operation against these two prominent journalists and a number of other media professionals has been blasted by opposition parties and media organizations for undermining freedom of the press.

Here is the full transcript of questions by the prosecutor and responses by Dumanlı during the deposition.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)