ISTANBUL, Oct 14: Turkish authorities on Wednesday raided the headquarters of Halk TV, one of the country’s few broadcasters critical of the government, and appointed a trustee to oversee its operations amid a corruption investigation.
The action drew strong condemnation from press freedom organisations and opposition parties, which accused the government of intensifying its efforts to silence dissenting voices.
Press freedom in Türkiye has steadily deteriorated during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s more than two decades in power, with a majority of media outlets now under government control. The country ranks 163rd among 180 nations in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index.
According to a statement from the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office, an investigation has been launched against Halk TV chairman Cafer Mahiroglu over allegations of bid rigging, bribery and money laundering.
The statement said detention warrants had been issued against 17 suspects, of whom 11 had been taken into custody.
Halk TV’s broadcasts were temporarily suspended following the raid. Media reports said police surrounded the channel’s headquarters while financial crimes investigators carried out searches inside the premises.
In a video message posted on X, Mahiroglu denounced the appointment of a trustee, describing it as a politically motivated move and calling it a “dark day for Türkiye.” Living abroad, he rejected the allegations against him as baseless and claimed that seven of his relatives had been detained.
The Ankara-based Contemporary Journalists Association also condemned the action, warning that the appointment of a trustee and suspension of the channel’s broadcasts represented a serious threat to press freedom and freedom of expression.
The association said the decision undermined constitutional rights and the public’s right to access information, describing the move as unacceptable.
Ozgur Ozel, leader of the main opposition party, also criticised the raid, accusing the government of abusing its power.
In a post on X, Ozel said raiding a television channel at dawn and appointing a trustee was an action associated with authoritarian rule. He added that the government had brought the country to such a state.
The latest development follows the arrest of two journalists and the placement of two others under house arrest last week over allegations of publishing misleading reports concerning a recent Turkish investment fund scandal. The controversy has also implicated a senior figure from Erdogan’s ruling party.
On Monday, international and Turkish human rights organisations urged social media platforms, including X, to resist court orders blocking hundreds of accounts belonging to journalists and activists. They also called on the Turkish government to stop issuing such restrictions.
Turkish authorities have defended the measures by citing public safety concerns, while press freedom advocates warn that the growing restrictions are narrowing the space for independent journalism and opposition voices.
