PARIS(Sputnik) — The Turkish government’s seizure of Feza Media Group was unacceptable as it is contrary to European values, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Monday.
On Friday, a Turkish court ordered Feza Media Group, which includes opposition newspaper Zaman, Today’s Zaman daily and the Cihan news agency, to be placed under the management of government trustees. The decision resulted in mass protests in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul. On Saturday, Turkish police used tear gas, water cannons and plastic bullets to disperse the protesters.
"It is unacceptable. You cannot wish to be closer to European standards and at the same time not to respect media pluralism. This is obvious and we have clearly stated this to the Turks," Ayrault told the broadcaster France Inter.
Ankara's move has been widely criticized by a number of countries, including the United States and Russia, as well as by the European Union and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
