Public Ads of Cumhuriyet Cut for 35 Days Over ‘Illegal Construction in Bosphorus’ News

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The Press Advertisement Institution has fined Cumhuriyet newspaper about its news reports regarding the Metropolitan Municipality's demolition of the constructions built by Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun in an estate with a view to Bosphorus in İstanbul.

The Institution has cut the public ads of Cumhuriyet for a period of 35 days over its news report, "There is illegal construction in Bosphorus."

Sezgin Tunç, the attorney of Fahrettin Altun, previously filed a complaint to the BİK, arguing that the news "did not reflect the truth" and "did not serve public interest." He also alleged that Cumhuriyet newspaper "overstepped the boundaries of the freedom of press and expression."

Based on this complaint, the public ads of Cumhuriyet have been cut in a decree signed by BİK Director General Rıdvan Duran.

The document has indicated that on April 13, 2020, when the teams of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality demolished the constructions in Kuzguncuk, the İstanbul 2nd Regional Directorate of Foundations and Altun signed a rental contract for the estate. "Altun rented the estate for purposes of security and rehabilitation," it has noted.

However, the document has made no references to the fact that the works on the estate started before the rental contract was signed.

The public ads of Cumhuriyet have been cut for 35 days on the ground that "the Article 1 of the General Assembly Resolution no. 129 on Press Code and the (c), (ı) and (i) provisions of this article were violated."

What happened?

Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun rented the estate behind his house in the Zone with View to Bosphorus from the Directorate General of Foundations for a period of 10 years.

As reported by Hazal Ocak from daily Cumhuriyet, Altun had a wall built on the estate. While the wall could be seen from many angles, he also had the landscape designed with a road, fireplace and pergola.

The construction in the area was demolished by the teams of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality upon the complaint of his neighbors on April 13.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the news where Altun's residential address and photo were used on the ground that he was "shown as a target to terrorist organizations."

Reporter Hazal Ocak, photojournalist Vedat Arık, Managing Editor Olcay Büyüktaş and Chief Editor İpek Özbey from Cumhuriyet were summoned to depose as part of this investigation on 30 April, 2020. 

An access block was also imposed on the related news report as well as similar others that reported after it.

Shortly afterwards, another investigation has been launched against three people, including CHP Üsküdar District Chair Suat Özçağdaş, in relation with the photographing of Altun's house in Kuzguncuk, İstanbul.

Summoned to depose by phone, Özçağdaş and the two others deposed to the prosecutor's office and they were released pending trial.

The attorneys of Altun have also filed a complaint against CHP İstanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu over her social media posts about Özçağdaş.

Examining the petition, the Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation against Kaftancıoğlu, accusing her of "praising the crime and criminal" and "instigating to violate privacy."

Kaftancıoğlu was also summoned to depose on April 29. (HA/SD)