Probe İnto Doğan Media Group 'Worrying': European Commission

The European Commission has said the investigation launched against the Doğan Media Group for allegedly making terrorist propaganda was "worrying" and the latest in a series of worrisome violations against press freedom in Turkey.

"The criminal investigation against the Doğan Media Group into news reports on clashes between [Turkish] security forces and the [outlawed] Kurdistan Workers' Party [PKK] is the latest example in a series of violations of press freedom" the European Commission said in a statement, adding freedom of expression should be respected in Turkey and the European Union membership for any country was directly tied to it.

The statement said free, diverse and independent media was the backbone of a democratic society as to inform citizens and make them actively involved in the society around them, and free media should not be underrated. - Brussels