Turkish Police Raid Opposition TV Station, Disrupting Live Broadcasts

Police in riot gear were seen outside the office in Istanbul early on Wednesday. Turkish police have raided the headquarters of Halk TV, one of the country's most-watched news channels, halting its live broadcasts. Halk TV, which is pro-opposition, reported that its employees were unable to enter the building on Wednesday morning. The government appointed a new administrator to run the channel. Reports in Turkish media indicated that financial crimes police were searching the building and that 11 people had been taken into custody in connection with the channel's owner. This incident is part of a series of actions against news sources critical of Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan and his government. Two weeks prior, officials closed a leading news site for what they described as "LGBT propaganda." Both Halk's news channel and its live broadcasts on YouTube were offline early on Wednesday. The channel is perceived by many as aligned with the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and frequently criticizes Erdoğan's ruling AK party. Prosecutors reportedly issued arrest warrants for 17 individuals as part of the investigation into Halk chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu, who is facing allegations of bribery, rigging tenders, and money laundering. Mahiroğlu, who was reportedly not in Turkey during the raid, stated on social media that seven family members were among those detained. He described the day as a "dark day for Turkey," claiming that the public's right to information is being seized for political reasons. The Istanbul Bar Association condemned the raid, noting its timing coincided with the court defense of Ekrem Imamoğlu, seen as Erdoğan's main political rival, who has been imprisoned for over a year on corruption charges. Özgür Özel, leader of the opposition New Party, criticized the raid as "weak and cowardly," asserting that such actions are characteristic of dictators. Özel formed his party after being removed as the CHP's leader by a court in May. Turkey ranked 163rd out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2026 World Press Freedom Index, which indicated that 90% of national media outlets are under government control and criticized the "abusive prosecution" of critical publications. The majority of Turkish media is viewed as pro-government due to years of state pressure, corporate acquisitions, and self-censorship. In September, a court blocked access to T24's website and social media accounts for publishing "LGBT propaganda." In October 2025, authorities seized control of Tele1, another pro-opposition TV channel, appointing a trustee to oversee its broadcasts, which were stripped of hard-news content.