ZAMAN (newspaper)

ZAMAN (newspaper)
Name	ZAMAN
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Broadsheet
Founded	1986
Ceased publication	2016 (print edition)
Language	Turkish
Headquarters	Istanbul, Turkey
Political	Initially conservative, later criticized as aligned with the Gülen movement

ZAMAN (newspaper) was a major Turkish daily established in Istanbul in 1986 that grew into one of Turkey's highest-circulation publications, competing with Hürriyet, Sabah (newspaper), Cumhuriyet (newspaper), Milliyet. The paper became a focal point in political disputes involving figures such as Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Abdullah Gül, Fethullah Gülen, and institutions like the Turkish Armed Forces, the National Intelligence Organization (Turkey), and the European Court of Human Rights.

History

ZAMAN was founded in 1986 by the publishing group linked to businessman Ekrem Dumanlı and investors associated with networks influenced by Fethullah Gülen, Süleyman Demirel, Turgut Özal, and conservative circles in Istanbul. During the 1990s ZAMAN expanded amid political currents tied to the rise of Welfare Party (Turkey), Virtue Party, and later the Justice and Development Party (Turkey), while interacting with media rivals such as Yeni Şafak and international outlets like The New York Times, BBC News, Al Jazeera. In the 2000s its circulation surged as it covered major events including the Ergenekon trials, the Gezi Park protests, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and bilateral tensions with Israel, Greece, and the European Union. By the 2010s ZAMAN's trajectory changed amid allegations involving Fethullah Gülen, leading to court actions involving judges from the Constitutional Court of Turkey and interventions by the Council of State (Turkey) and Istanbul Provincial Court.

Editorial stance and ownership

ZAMAN's editorial line shifted from conservative, pro-market positions associated with figures like Turgut Özal and think tanks such as SETA to coverage sympathetic to Fethullah Gülen and affiliated organizations including Hizmet and educational networks linked to İmam Hatip schools. Ownership links involved private holding companies and media conglomerates with ties to businessmen like Feza Media Group executives; editorial leadership included editors such as Ekrem Dumanlı and columnists who engaged with thinkers like Yusuf Kaplan, Cengiz Çandar, Orhan Pamuk, and commentators from Harvard University, Georgetown University, Oxford University. Critics accused the paper of partisanship aligned with movements opposed to figures in the Republican People's Party and allege coordination with prosecutors in matters touching the Ergenekon investigations and the Sledgehammer (Balyoz) case.

Circulation and distribution

At its peak ZAMAN claimed daily sales and distribution networks rivaling Hürriyet and Milliyet, reaching readers in urban centers such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and regional provinces including Southeastern Anatolia Region and Marmara Region. International editions and supplements targeted Turkish diaspora communities in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, and Australia, with partnerships involving distribution channels linked to community associations and cultural centers like those associated with Fethullah Gülen. Circulation figures were cited in industry audits alongside competitors tracked by media analysts at institutions such as Reuters Institute and Media Ownership Monitor.

Content and sections

ZAMAN featured sections typical of major dailies: domestic news covering events in Ankara, foreign affairs addressing relations with United States, Russia, China, and regional issues involving Syria, Iraq, and Iran; economic reporting on markets referenced entities like Borsa Istanbul and corporations including Turkish Airlines, Koç Holding, Sabancı Holding; cultural pages discussing authors such as Orhan Pamuk, Elif Şafak, artists tied to institutions like Istanbul Biennial; and lifestyle, sports coverage of clubs such as Galatasaray S.K., Fenerbahçe S.K., Beşiktaş J.K.. Opinion pages hosted columnists who debated legal controversies tied to European Court of Human Rights rulings, academic perspectives from Bilkent University, Boğaziçi University, and commentary referencing works published by Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press.

Legal challenges and government actions

ZAMAN faced legal scrutiny including asset seizures, court-appointed trusteeship actions by Turkish judges, and police interventions involving institutions such as the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Istanbul Police Department. Actions were taken amid investigations into alleged links to the Fethullah Gülen movement and accusations of involvement in the 2013 corruption investigations and the attempted 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt. Government responses involved decrees and court rulings invoking provisions of Turkish law adjudicated by courts including the Constitutional Court of Turkey and referenced in scrutiny from international bodies such as European Commission, Council of Europe, and rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Influence and controversies

ZAMAN's influence extended across Turkish politics, media ecosystems, and diaspora communities, with controversies surrounding alleged coordination with prosecutors during the Ergenekon and Sledgehammer (Balyoz) cases and disputes with political leaders including Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and ministers such as Binali Yıldırım. International reactions involved statements from United States Department of State, European Parliament, and press freedom organizations, while academic analyses appeared in journals tied to Middle East Institute, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and universities like Johns Hopkins University and LSE. The paper's closure and takeover sparked debates about press freedom involving NGOs, lawyers from institutions such as the Istanbul Bar Association, and ongoing legal appeals in domestic and international courts.

Category:Newspapers published in Turkey Category:Turkish-language newspapers