Turkish Islamic Television
Turkey has three Islamic television stations--stations with links to Islamic institutions that carry programming apparently designed to appeal to a conservative Islamic audience. Kanal 7, Samanyolu, and Mesaj have links with Islamic newspapers, which are evident in the television appearances of columnists from the papers -- Yeni Safak commentators on Kanal 7, Zaman columnists on Samanyolu, an Yeni Mesaj analysts on Mesaj. According to the left-wing website www.solmeclis.net, Kanal 7 is controlled by Yimpas Holding, an Islamic company.[1]
Samanyolu is owned by Samanyolu Yayincilik Hizmetleri A.S., which is alleged to have close ties with the Fethullah Gulen community, and Feza Yayincilik, which publishes the daily, Zaman and Aksiyon magazine.
Samanyolu and Zaman occasionally carry Fethullah Gulen's sermons and articles.[2] Mesaj TV is reportedly owned or controlled by Haydar Bas, leader of the Independent Turkey Party (BTP) and the Kadiri sect, according to www.medyaline.com/haberler, which includes detailed information about Bas's background.[3]
Kanal 7, Samanyolu, and Mesaj each carry a number of programs focusing on moral and religious issues Unlike non-Islamic TV stations, they do not broadcast reality game shows or programs about celebrities, and they avoid comments and scenes that could disturb conservative audiences.
- ↑ Yimpas Holding has recently come under investigation by the Capital Market Board for financial irregularities and its owner is reportedly wanted in Germany for fraud
- ↑ In addition, the television station Kanalturk alleged that Nurettin Veren, a leading figure in the Fethullah Gulen community, is one of the shareholders of Samanyolu and Zaman http://www.basinkonseyi.org.tr/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=674.
- ↑ Detailed information about the shareholders of these companies may be found in Turkish Companies Registration Gazette, which is published by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), and can be obtained by subscription. But there are allegations that the real owners of the companies owning some television stations and newspapers are not named in their share register, according to Hikmet Bila writing on 10 June 2001 in the secular Cumhuriyet.