Doğan Group representative detained after column in daily targeting him

A prosecutor's office in Istanbul, which ordered the detention of Doğan Group's Ankara representative, Barbaros Muratoğlu, has cited articles published in two pro-government newspapers as evidence, daily Hürriyet has learned. 

Muratoğlu's detention came after daily Akşam editor-in-chief Murat Kelkitlioğlu leveled a series of accusations on Nov. 24, claiming he was linked to the Gülen movement, which is widely believed to have orchestrated the failed July 15 military coup attempt. Sources told Hürriyet that Ankara prosecutors ordered the detention of Muratoğlu based on this specific article. 

Along with Akşam, daily Takvim published similarly unfounded claims. 

Police arrived at Muratoğlu's house in Ankara at 6 a.m. on Dec. 1 and detained the executive after a two hour search in the house. They also copied all information in Muratoğlu's computers. 

He was taken to the police anti-terrorism department in Istanbul in the afternoon. 

Doğan Group's, which owns the Hürriyet and Hüriyet Daily News newspapers, released a statement on Dec. 1, defying reports that an "operation" has been conducted against it. 

Doğan Group's deputy chairman responsible for corporate communications, Ahter Kutadgu, said in the statement that a "slander campaign" was being carried out against the group. 

The statement underscored that Muratoğlu had served in various positions within Doğan Holding for 28 years and has been Doğan Holding's Ankara representative for the last two years, "earning our appreciation with his hard work." 

"We see that some media groups, taking advantage of this investigation, have reported false news that an operation has been staged against the Doğan Group. Our group, which paid a heavy price for...