In a pre-dawn operation on Wednesday, Turkish police stormed the Istanbul headquarters of Halk TV, a prominent pro-opposition news channel, forcing it off the air and detaining 11 staff members. The channel's live broadcasts and its YouTube feed were cut shortly after 7:00 am local time, with journalists reporting that officers had sealed off the building and seized broadcasting equipment.
Prosecutors in Ankara said the raid was part of an investigation into Halk TV's chairman, Cafer Mahiroğlu, on suspicion of bribery, tender rigging, and money laundering. A warrant was issued for 17 people, of whom 11 were detained. Four others are abroad, one is in custody, and one remains at large. Mahiroğlu himself lives outside Turkey and was not among those held. Authorities also placed a government-appointed trustee in charge of companies linked to him.
Halk TV journalists took to social media to describe the scene. Onur Dalar wrote: "The police have sealed off the entrance to our building. That’s the situation... There’s nothing left to say." Gamze Altunay, another reporter, said: "At Halk TV, the management is now under a trustee. Broadcasting systems have been seized. Our channel is literally under blockade. I still can’t get into the institution where I’ve worked for 5 years, none of us can. The police haven’t left the building."
Timing raises eyebrows
The raid came just hours before the defense was due to present its case in the sprawling corruption trial of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the jailed mayor of Istanbul, and some 400 co-defendants. İmamoğlu, a leading figure in the opposition Yeni Parti, was arrested in March on charges widely seen as politically motivated. His trial has become a flashpoint in Turkey's escalating crackdown on dissent.
Opposition leader Özgür Özel condemned the operation, calling it "weak and cowardly." In a statement on X, he wrote: "Storming a TV channel with a police raid at dawn and appointing a trustee is something only dictators do. Unfortunately, they have brought our country to this state." He noted the timing was no coincidence: "They did this on the very day the defense was to begin in Turkey’s biggest political trial. Those who appoint trustees to municipalities and usurp the will of the people have now appointed a trustee to Halk TV, watched by millions. Because they are WEAK and COWARDLY!"
The Turkish Journalists' Union (TGS) also reacted with fury, posting: "In recent years, the lawlessness used by the political authorities to overcome every problem has once again struck freedom of the press today... We do not accept this tyranny!"
This is the latest in a series of moves against independent media in Turkey. Just two weeks ago, authorities shut down the website and social media accounts of T24, a leading digital news outlet, citing "LGBT propaganda." The crackdown has drawn international concern, with press freedom groups warning that Turkey's media landscape is being systematically narrowed ahead of upcoming elections.
Halk TV has long been a critical voice, particularly on issues surrounding the İmamoğlu case and the broader erosion of democratic institutions. Its forced shutdown marks a significant escalation in the government's efforts to silence opposition coverage. The channel's future remains uncertain, with a trustee now in control of its operations.
The European Union, which has repeatedly raised concerns about rule of law in Turkey, has yet to issue an official statement. However, diplomats in Brussels are expected to discuss the matter in the coming days, given the bloc's ongoing monitoring of Turkish media freedom as part of its accession framework.
For now, Halk TV's studios remain under police guard, and its journalists are barred from entering. The raid sends a chilling signal to independent media across the country, as the government tightens its grip ahead of what promises to be a contentious legal and political period.
