Taraf

Taraf was a Turkish daily newspaper founded in 2007 and first circulated nationally on 15 November of that year. Its name means “side” in Turkish. The publication presented itself as socially liberal and became especially prominent for challenging the traditional political influence of Turkey’s armed forces. At a time when the military had historically played a significant role in public life and constitutional politics, Taraf published a series of reports and documents alleging military involvement in coup planning and other interventions in civilian affairs. The newspaper’s reporting made it one of Turkey’s most controversial and consequential media outlets. Articles associated with Taraf discussed alleged plans including Sledgehammer, a purported coup scenario involving attacks on mosques and other destabilizing acts, and the Operation Cage Action Plan, which allegedly contemplated violence against a museum and minority communities. The reports contributed to a wider public debate over military power, democratic accountability, and the use of secret state documents. The sources who supplied some of the leaked material were not publicly established. The Turkish military responded in part by withdrawing or canceling the newspaper’s accreditation for access to press briefings at military headquarters. Taraf’s editorial identity was shaped by journalists who later became widely associated with debates about Turkey’s political realignment and the Gülen movement. Among the best-known figures connected with the paper were reporter Mehmet Baransu, columnist Emre Uslu, and former columnist Önder Aytaç. The publication was accused by critics of serving the interests of the Gülen movement, including through its treatment of allegations concerning cheating in examinations for public servants. These allegations and affiliations became increasingly important as relations between the Gülen network and the Turkish government deteriorated. Taraf and people associated with it denied that the newspaper operated as an official mouthpiece for the movement. In 2011, Taraf became the first Turkish media partner of WikiLeaks. It signed an arrangement to publish leaked documents directly, joining a group of international news organizations working with the whistle-blowing platform. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange reportedly described Taraf as Turkey’s bravest newspaper when explaining the choice of partner. The newspaper also experienced major internal changes. On 14 December 2012, founding editor-in-chief Ahmet Altan, assistant editor Yasemin Çongar, and columnists Murat Belge and Neşe Düzel left their positions. Columnist Hadi Uluengin followed them the next day. Owner Başar Arslan attributed the departures to differences of opinion that had developed within the organization and said the paper would continue publishing. Arslan also rejected accusations of political bias and outside financing, describing Taraf as a long-term investment despite substantial losses. Taraf’s publishing life ended in the aftermath of the attempted coup in Turkey in July 2016. On 27 July 2016, authorities closed the newspaper under a statutory decree issued during the state of emergency. The closure was officially connected to alleged links with the Gülen movement, which the Turkish government blamed for organizing the coup attempt. Taraf therefore occupies a distinctive place in modern Turkish media history: it was both an influential anti-militarist investigative newspaper and a publication later suppressed amid the state’s campaign against alleged Gülen-linked institutions.

Taraf was established in Turkey in 2007 by publisher and owner Başar Arslan and began national circulation on 15 November that year. It entered the market as a socially liberal newspaper at a time when arguments over the role of the Turkish military remained central to Turkish public life. Its editorial approach was to challenge military influence over civilian politics and to investigate allegations that the armed forces had participated in coup planning or other forms of political intervention. The paper gained national attention through reports based on leaked documents. Among the subjects associated with its coverage were the alleged Sledgehammer coup plan, which reportedly included proposals for violent acts intended to create instability, and the alleged Operation Cage Action Plan, described as involving an attack on a museum and actions against minority communities. Such reporting damaged the public image of the military and helped expand discussion about civilian control, the legacy of military interventions, and the use of confidential state material in journalism. The identity of the sources who provided important documents to Taraf remained unresolved in the public account. The military’s reaction included the cancellation of the newspaper’s accreditation to receive press releases at its headquarters. Taraf’s journalism was also linked to the political and media networks surrounding the Gülen movement. Reporter Mehmet Baransu, columnist Emre Uslu, and former columnist Önder Aytaç were among prominent figures associated with the paper who were publicly described as having links to that movement. The newspaper was accused of advancing Gülen-linked interests, including by suppressing or minimizing allegations of cheating in examinations for Turkish public servants. Those accusations were denied, and the movement’s alleged representatives were not accepted by all observers as acting in an official capacity. Nevertheless, these associations became increasingly significant after the political alliance between the Gülen network and the Turkish government broke down. In 2011, Taraf expanded its international profile by becoming the first Turkish partner of WikiLeaks. It entered into an arrangement to publish leaked documents firsthand, alongside better-known international media partners. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange reportedly selected the paper because he considered it exceptionally courageous within Turkey. The newspaper underwent a major editorial transition in December 2012. Founding editor-in-chief Ahmet Altan, assistant editor Yasemin Çongar, and columnists Murat Belge and Neşe Düzel resigned on 14 December. Hadi Uluengin left the following day. Başar Arslan explained the departures as the result of disagreements that had developed within the organization and maintained that Taraf would continue. Arslan also rejected claims that the paper was politically biased or funded from outside sources, while acknowledging that the project had incurred considerable losses. Taraf ceased publication after the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016. On 27 July, it was closed by statutory decree during the state of emergency. The authorities cited alleged connections with the Gülen movement, which the government held responsible for the attempted coup. The closure ended the newspaper’s circulation and placed its history within the broader suppression of Turkish media organizations accused of association with the movement. Taraf is consequently remembered both for influential investigations into military power and for its role in the polarized media and political environment that preceded its closure.

• 2016

  Newspaper is closed by decree

  [1]Tarafen.wikipedia.org

  Taraf was shut on 27 July 2016 under a state-of-emergency statutory decree following the attempted coup in Turkey.

• 2012

  Founding editorial leadership departs

  [1]Tarafen.wikipedia.org

  Several senior editors and columnists, including Ahmet Altan and Yasemin Çongar, resigned in December after reported differences of opinion.

• 2011

  WikiLeaks partnership

  [1]Tarafen.wikipedia.org

  Taraf became the first Turkish media partner of WikiLeaks and agreed to publish leaked documents firsthand.

• 2007

  Taraf is founded and begins circulation

  [1]Tarafen.wikipedia.org

  Taraf was founded in Turkey and began nationwide circulation on 15 November 2007.

A socially liberal, nationally distributed Turkish newspaper positioned around investigative journalism, civil-military accountability, and opposition to military intervention in political and social life.

• National newspaper · 2007

  Taraf daily newspaper

  Taraf’s principal and apparently sole branded product was a nationally distributed Turkish daily newspaper. It combined political reporting, investigative journalism, opinion columns, and coverage of civil-military relations. Its editorial reputation was built on publishing allegations and leaked documents concerning military intervention in politics, coup planning, and state institutions. The newspaper operated from 2007 until its closure by decree in 2016.

• 2016

  Closure over alleged Gülen movement links

  Taraf was closed under a statutory decree during Turkey’s state of emergency after the attempted coup. The authorities connected the newspaper to the Gülen movement, while the wider political and media controversy concerned allegations that the movement had operated through affiliated institutions and journalists.

  Source

Read more

• 2016

  Closure under statutory decreeOther

  Background

  The attempted coup in Turkey led to a state of emergency and a government campaign against organizations alleged to be connected with the Gülen movement.

  Action taken

  Authorities closed Taraf on 27 July 2016 under a statutory decree.

  Aftermath

  The newspaper ceased operating and its media brand became defunct.

  Source

• 2012

  Accepted the departure of senior editorial staffOther

  Background

  Differences of opinion developed within the newspaper’s editorial organization.

  Action taken

  Founding editor-in-chief Ahmet Altan, assistant editor Yasemin Çongar, and several columnists left in December 2012.

  Aftermath

  Owner Başar Arslan said the newspaper would continue publishing despite the departures.

  Source

• 2011

  Partnered with WikiLeaksStrategy

  Background

  Taraf sought to extend its investigative and international role by joining media organizations that received WikiLeaks material for publication.

  Action taken

  The newspaper signed an agreement to become WikiLeaks’ first Turkish partner and publish leaked documents firsthand.

  Aftermath

  The partnership gave Taraf international visibility and reinforced its image as an unusually confrontational investigative newspaper.

  Source

1. 1Tarafen.wikipedia.org