{"id":16482,"date":"2026-02-17T17:36:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T17:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/16482\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T17:36:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T17:36:07","slug":"turkish-journalist-investigated-over-report-on-competitive-exam-free-appointment-of-turk-telekom-ceos-daughter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/16482\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkish journalist investigated over report on competitive exam-free appointment of T\u00fcrk Telekom CEO\u2019s daughter"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into journalist \u0130smail Ar\u0131 over his reporting on the appointment of the daughter Ebubekir \u015eahin, CEO of T\u00fcrk Telekom and former head of Turkey\u2019s broadcast regulator, through an exceptional civil service provision that doesn\u2019t require a competitive exam, the Birg\u00fcn daily reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office initiated the probe following a complaint filed by \u015eahin, who accused Ar\u0131 of \u201cinsult.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u015eahin previously served as head of Turkey\u2019s broadcasting and streaming authority, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RT\u00dcK), after being appointed to its board from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). During his tenure, the authority had imposed fines and temporary broadcasting bans on several pro-opposition media outlets, sparking criticism from rights groups.<\/p>\n

In a report published on January 31, Ar\u0131 said \u015eahin\u2019s daughter, Zeynep Melike \u015eahin, had been appointed to the Turkish Competition Authority under an exceptional provision in the civil service law that allows certain positions to be filled without a competitive examination.<\/p>\n

Access to Ar\u0131\u2019s report was later blocked at \u015eahin\u2019s request. In a post on X, Ar\u0131 said both the access ban and the investigation had proceeded \u201cat lightning speed,\u201d adding, \u201cIf he could, he would have me executed,\u201d Ar\u0131 wrote.<\/p>\n

\u0130ki hafta \u00f6nce \u201cEbubekir \u015eahin\u2019in k\u0131z\u0131n\u0131n s\u0131navs\u0131z memur yap\u0131ld\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131\u201d haber yapt\u0131k. <\/p>\n

Bu habere \u0131\u015f\u0131k h\u0131z\u0131ndan eri\u015fim engeli getirip yok ettiler<\/p>\n

\u015eimdi de \u015eahin\u2019in \u015fikayetiyle hakk\u0131mda \u0131\u015f\u0131k h\u0131z\u0131nda soru\u015fturma a\u00e7\u0131ld\u0131\u011f\u0131n\u0131 \u00f6\u011frendim ve ifade verdim<\/p>\n

Elinden gelse idam ettirecek! https:\/\/t.co\/n5ZP53GTcD<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FFXD2XxiDC<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 \u0130smail Ar\u0131 (@ismailari_) February 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

In his statement to prosecutors, Ar\u0131 said \u015eahin is a public figure and that the appointment of his daughter without taking the KPSS examination was a matter of public interest. He maintained that his article constituted legitimate journalistic activity and did not amount to a crime.<\/p>\n

Ar\u0131 was previously indicted<\/a>\u00a0on charges of \u201cinsult,\u201d \u201cdefamation\u201d and \u201cpublic dissemination of misleading information\u201d in connection with an August 30 article questioning<\/a>\u00a0why no investigation had been launched into payments made by RT\u00dcK to the companies that had allegedly received funds from the government-affiliated Yunus Emre Foundation through fake invoices.<\/p>\n

According to Expression Interrupted, a press freedom monitoring group, 33 journalists\u00a0are<\/a>\u00a0currently behind bars in Turkey. The country\u2019s deteriorating media landscape was also highlighted in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which\u00a0ranked<\/a>\u00a0Turkey\u00a0159th out of 180 nations.<\/p>\n