Turkish journalists react against Dogan's unfair tax fine

Here are some excerpts from columnists of other media organizations:

-- FATIH ALTAYLI - HABERTURK
I think you heard about the tax fine imposed on the Dogan Group and the accusation of tax evasion. Everyone has heard about it anyway. We already knew that a lot of investigations have been instigated into Dogan.

Rumors of  the investigations have circulated for a long time. And in the end it exploded: 830 million TL.

Huge money.

As you know I was editor-in-chief of the only newspaper that covered reports of tax evasion of Turkey’s leading fuel distribution company Petrol Ofisi (POAS) by Aydın Dogan who has boasted of paying record-high tax.

Aydin Dogan sued me over this report. But I turned out to be right. POAS was involved in major tax evasion.

But now I am rebelling. 

In my opinion the fine on Dogan is unfair. When you look at the taxation laws, it is obvious that there were no attempts at tax dodging.

It may be a procedural mistake, maybe a missed or late payment. I cannot know because I did not see the whole file, but it is clear that there is no clear evidence of evasion as far.

Dogan may be fined over deception in relation to the purchase of paper.

There is something fishy about it.

But this fine is unfair.

It is a sign of pressure on media and a settling of the scores.

Such unfair penalties overshadow just fines that may be issued in the future.

-- YAVUZ SEMERCI - GAZETEPORT
I have spoken to many tax experts and almost all them agree that this levy will be annulled by the courts.

I think Dogan is right when it said in a statement published "We will definitely expose the true motive and intent behind this conscious and illegal levy."

As a journalist who has criticized many business activities of the Dogan Group, I think it is unfair to show the Dogan Group as a tax evader.

These fines remind me of a saying "we love our friends and turn blind eye on what they do. But we use the laws for our enemies."

-- NAZLI ILICAK - SABAH
I think this amount is higher than it should have been. At the end of the day, newspapers are important for everybody and all of us. My own interests could be harmed, but on this issue, I have to listen to my conscience.

-- TURKISH JOURNALISTS' SOCIETY (TGC)
"Mr. Prime Minister's anger caused by the news stories he disliked has turned into a concrete attempt to silence (media) with the extremely high tax levy imposed on the Dogan Media Group. The TGC believes that this incident is a concrete evidence of the discomfort towards the different views."

PRESS INSTITUTE ORGANIZATION
"The pressure against a free and independent press continues with unprecedented methods being implemented in our country. In the end, the financial sanction that is being imposed (on Dogan) reaches a level never before seen even in the darkest day in the history of the Turkish press."

"As the astronomical fine imposed on the Dogan Media Group exceeds the current market value of the company, it is clear that the aim is not to fine a tax evasion, but to abolish the largest media group."