Turkey seizes Halk TV in crackdown on independent media
Turkish police raided pro-opposition Halk TV on October 14, 2023, appointing a state trustee who cut its live broadcast.
Police raided the Istanbul headquarters of independent news channel Halk TV early on October 14, 2023. A government-appointed trustee from the state-run Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) took control, ordering an immediate end to live broadcasts, which were replaced with an old Turkish film. Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş asked the incoming trustee to allow live programming to continue, but his request was rejected. Toktaş also refused to work with the new management, calling the takeover unlawful.
Halk TV had continued reporting on matters of pressing public interest until the last moment. An anchor was conducting an interview about an investment fund scandal implicating prominent figures in President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) moments before the feed was cut. Police blocked the road outside the building, preventing employees from entering while officers searched inside. Reporter Gamze Altunay said hundreds of officers were involved in the raid. Prosecutors ordered the detention of 17 suspects, with 11 taken into custody.
Government justification and broader pattern of repression
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office stated the operation was part of an investigation into Halk TV owner Cafer Mahiroğlu over allegations of bribery, bid rigging, and money laundering. Sixteen other people were also ordered arrested. The TMSF, a state body attached to the presidency, was appointed as trustee to Halk TV and linked companies. This fund has been used over the past decade to manage companies under governmental administration subject to criminal investigations.
Critics say the seizure is part of a wider government effort to restrict access to independent news. This campaign has involved pulling the plug on several TV news outlets, prosecuting and jailing journalists, and greatly escalating internet censorship. The takeover violates the public's right to information and the rights of workers and journalists at the channel.
The pressure on media has intensified recently. On September 30, an İstanbul court blocked access to the T24 news website and its social media accounts over coverage prosecutors described as 'LGBT propaganda.' The Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD) said at least 1,270 X accounts were subject to blocking orders in September, with the platform withholding about 90 percent of them in Turkey. Those affected included journalists, news organizations, academics, economists, and rights groups. Halk TV itself has faced prior criminal investigations and broadcasting penalties. Toktaş was jailed in January 2025 over a broadcast and acquitted after 34 days in pretrial detention.
Political context and opposition response
The seizure coincided with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu taking the stand to begin his defense in his main politically-motivated trial. It drew sharp condemnation from opposition leaders. Özgür Özel, leader of the opposition New Party, condemned the raid. He said such an operation against a television station was something only dictators would do. Özel questioned the timing, pointing to both İmamoğlu’s trial and public demands for accountability over the investment fund scandal.
Owner Cafer Mahiroğlu announced the raid on social media, stating seven of his family members had been detained, including his 70-year-old brother. He said, 'Today is a dark day for Turkey. The public’s right to information is being seized for political reasons.' His initial post did not address the financial allegations. Days before the takeover, Halk TV had come under attack from Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the restored leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP). Kılıçdaroğlu accused the channel of broadcasting false news '24 hours a day' and questioned why Mahiroğlu remained abroad. Mahiroğlu rejected the criticism, accusing Kılıçdaroğlu of targeting independent media.
The political landscape is fracturing. Mayor Cemil Tugay, elected on the CHP ticket in 2024, joined President Erdoğan’s AKP on October 7 after leaving the CHP in June. Özel and 90 other lawmakers left the CHP in July to establish the New Party after Kılıçdaroğlu was restored as party leader.
Human rights implications and calls for action
The takeover of Halk TV represents a direct attack on press freedom and public access to independent information. In a country where most people rely on television for news and where broadcast news is increasingly monotone and government-aligned, Halk TV had been a critical, popular pro-opposition voice. A free, pluralistic media offering varied views is a cornerstone of a democratic society. The action undermines this democratic pluralism. The report calls for immediate steps to reverse the takeover of Halk TV.
