Turkish police raided the Istanbul headquarters of opposition broadcaster Halk TV early Wednesday, halting live broadcasts as state-appointed trustees took control of the station. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the operation targeted Cafer Mahiroğlu, the channel’s owner, over allegations of bribery, bid rigging and money laundering. Authorities detained 11 people, including Mahiroğlu’s seven family members and a journalist, while the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed to manage Halk TV and affiliated companies.
The takeover sparked immediate condemnation from press unions, opposition politicians and rights groups. The Turkish Journalists’ Union (TGS) called the raid arbitrary, while DİSK Basın-İş warned that media outlets in Turkey now lack legal protection. The Progressive Journalists Association (ÇGD) cited the 2025 seizure of TELE1 as evidence that no broadcaster is safe from intervention. Mahiroğlu, who lives abroad, denied the allegations, calling the move politically motivated and accusing the government of weaponizing the judiciary.
Halk TV, known for its critical coverage of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government, had been preparing to air Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s defense in his trial on Wednesday. The channel’s general news coordinator, Serhan Asker, gave interviews after the raid, while protesters gathered outside the building. Opposition lawmakers from Yeni Parti staged a symbolic protest in parliament, covering their eyes and mouths with black tape. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemned the intervention as a threat to media freedom.
The channel’s broadcasts remained offline as of Wednesday, with its social media accounts also blocked. Halk TV had previously been placed under TMSF control in October 2025 after its editor-in-chief, Merdan Yanardağ, was detained in an espionage probe linked to İmamoğlu. Yanardağ denied those allegations at the time.
