In defense of its headline, Hürriyet responds to 'unlimited slanders'

Hürriyet has released a statement regarding its headline story on Feb. 25 about the Turkish Armed Forces' answers to various criticisms, responding to "unlimited slanders" targeting its journalism right after the story was published. Below is the full text of the statement."Our daily's Feb. 25 headline titled 'Seven Answers to Seven Criticisms' was a story about how the General Staff reviewed the latest criticisms that had been voiced frequently and speculations on Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar in certain segments of the public and media. The story provided answers to each criticism one by one. We are noteworthily following how the headline by our Ankara representative Hande Fırat is intentionally being dragged into a course that it should not be. The allegation of a "coup provocation" was intentionally put on the story in social media and in some websites, turning into a lynch campaign going as far as demanding the trial of Hürriyet staff responsible for the story.

Another interesting thing is the fact that a different segment claimed that the same story created a perception plot, interpreting it as a support to 'yes' votes in the constitutional referendum, with a message saying "Close the ranks" to the undecided within the Justice and Development Party (AKP) base. In the end, the opposite segments come together in attacking Hürriyet by attributing different intentions to the same story.

All of those accusations are malevolent. When Hürriyet's story read carefully, it can be seen that the text included answers to the criticisms on Akar and it is no secret that those criticisms came from not only pro-government sides but also from the opposition side. Hürriyet merely acted with the motivations of journalism in this story. Our Ankara...