Turkey: Media connected to Christian minority communities in ‘dire straits’
In the unusual conditions caused by the novel coronavirus, the media scene is also affected and must face financial shortfalls and downsizing. In Turkey, the newspapers and publishers are in a particularly difficult situation.
Among the side effects of the coronavirus pandemic, in Turkey as in other countries, the difficulties are affecting the media sector, and newspapers in particular, Agenzia Fides reported.
Newspapers linked to the Christian minority communities are particularly affected.
Mihail Vasiladis, editor-in-chief of Apoyevmatini – one of the leading information sources of the Greek Orthodox community – explained that due to financial shortages, the newspaper is on the verge of severe downsizing.
Yetvart Danzikyan, editor-in-chief of Agos newspaper published in Armenian and Turkish, also explained that the weekly printed version of the newspaper is printed on Thursday. Before the pandemic, the journal was read mainly at the weekend, but given the current restrictions on activities and the curfew, sales have decreased.
Beside the negative effects of the coronavirus, key religious leaders have been the target of serious allegations. In a recent edition of the Gerçek Hayat magazine, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has been accused of supporting the FETÖ, an acronym that stands for Organisation of Gülenista Terror (expression with which the Turkish pro-government organs indicate the Hizmet association of the Muslim preacher Fethullah Gülen).
Among others, Turkey’s Chief Rabbi, the former Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, and Pope John Paul II have been also targeted.
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