In brief
Police in Istanbul broke into the headquarters of Halk TV early Friday, sealing the studio, taking 11 people into custody, and appointing a new administrator. The raid follows a pattern of state action against outlets that criticize President Erdoğan, including seizures of other channels and blocking of opposition websites. Prosecution reports suggest charges of bribery, tender rigging and money laundering are linked to the channel’s chairman, Cafer Mahiroğlu. Opposition figures condemned the move as an assault on press freedom, while Turkey’s ranking on the World Press Freedom Index remains among the lowest.
Turkish authorities stormed the premises of Halk TV, a channel closely tied to the opposition Republican People’s Party, early Friday morning, suspending its live programming and detaining staff.
The police, part of the Financial Crimes Investigation Department, searched the building and took 11 people into custody, including relatives of the channel’s chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu who was abroad during the raid. Prosecutors later issued arrest warrants for 17 individuals over allegations of bribery, tender rigging and money laundering linked to Mahiroğlu.
In addition to detaining employees, the government appointed a new administrator to run Halk TV, a move seen as a step in the broader effort to diminish critical media voices.
The raid comes amid an ongoing pattern of crackdowns on outlets deemed hostile to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Earlier this year, the authorities seized control of Tele1 and blocked the T24 website, while the Istanbul Bar Association condemned the raid, calling it a “dark day for Turkey.”
Erdogan’s administration has faced increasing criticism from Reporters Without Borders, which ranked Turkey 163rd out of 180 in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index, noting that 90% of national media are under government influence and that “abusive prosecution” of critical outlets has become routine.
Opposition leader Özgür Özel described the operation as “weak and cowardly,” saying that “storming a TV channel...is something only dictators do.”
