An interview to TRT TV channel by Mehmet Ali Agca, a man responsible for an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, met with serious criticism of the Turkish press.  

After his release this January Mehmet Ali Agca tried to hold a press conference but Turkish media jointly boycotted murderer’s show.

The Haber (news) program aired on TRT put an end to boycott of the Turkish press inviting Agca for an interview. Interestingly, case of the Milliyet newspaper editor, killed by Agca in 1979, was not discussed at all.  

Mehmet Ali Birand, Chief Editor of CNNTurk and Kanal D TV channels said that it was the first ever boycott declared jointly by the Turkish press. “It is improper for TRT to invite a person killing chief editor of a newspaper,” he noted.

In an interview with Turkish state TV channel Mehmet Ali Agca said that the order to shoot Pope John Paul II was given by Vatican administration.