Turkish police raided the Istanbul headquarters of Halk TV, a pro-opposition television station, on October 15, 2026. The raid coincided with the day that jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was set to begin his defense against corruption charges. During the raid, live broadcasts were halted, and a government-appointed administrator took over the media outlet. An arrest warrant was issued for Halk TV's CEO, Cafer Mahiroglu, who resides in London. Prosecutors reported that 11 individuals were arrested in connection with the operation.
Halk TV is recognized as one of Turkey's prominent opposition television channels, often broadcasting critical reports about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP). Following the raid, journalists were initially barred from entering the building, and pre-recorded programs were aired instead of live content.
The timing of the raid is significant, as it occurred on the same day Imamoglu was scheduled to defend himself in court. Imamoglu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019, was arrested on March 19, 2025, and is viewed as a key rival to Erdogan, with expectations to run for president in 2028. He faces accusations of leading a criminal organization and related financial crimes, with prosecutors seeking a prison sentence of 2,352 years based on 142 charges. Imamoglu has denied the allegations, claiming they are politically motivated.
Istanbul prosecutors stated that the raid was part of an investigation into Mahiroglu, who faces charges of bribery, bid rigging, and money laundering. They indicated that arrest warrants had been issued for 17 individuals in total, in addition to the 11 arrests made. Assets belonging to companies allegedly linked to Mahiroglu were seized, and a trustee was appointed to manage these firms.
The opposition has criticized the police raid. Ozgur Ozel, leader of the New Party (Yeni Parti), labeled it a dark day for Turkey, asserting that the public's right to information is being undermined for political reasons. Mahiroglu commented that supporting Halk TV equates to supporting democracy in Turkey. The Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) condemned the raid, calling it arbitrary and asserting that the press should remain free from censorship. Editor-in-chief Suat Toktas attempted to convince the new state-appointed administrator to resume live broadcasts, declaring the actions taken as illegal.
Halk TV has been broadcasting since January 10, 2005, and gained significant attention during the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Mahiroglu assumed control of the station in 2020.