Halk TV reports Istanbul police raid and appointment of government trustee

Istanbul, Turkey. Halk TV, a Turkish broadcaster aligned with the opposition, reported on Wednesday that police had raided its office in Istanbul and a government-appointed trustee had been put in charge of the channel.

Live transmission halted

In a report published on its website, Halk TV said hundreds of police officers had entered its building and that access was blocked while officers searched the premises.

Live programming stopped at 6:30 a.m. (0330 GMT), with recorded content airing afterwards.

Halk TV programmer Deniz Bayramoglu wrote on X that Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktas had tried to persuade the trustee delegation’s leader to allow the live broadcast to continue, but permission was refused.

Authorities did not immediately comment. The reasons for the police operation and the trustee’s appointment were not immediately known.

Opposition leader condemns intervention

Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the main opposition New Party, condemned the intervention, saying the government was trying to stop people from obtaining news.

“Dawn raid on a television channel, appointing a trustee — only dictators would do such a thing,” Ozel said on X.

He also linked the appointment to the removal of elected mayors during a legal crackdown targeting the opposition.

“Those who appoint trustees to municipalities and trample the people’s will, have now appointed a trustee to Halk TV, watched by millions. Because THEY ARE IMPOTENT AND COWARDS!” he added.

Wider concerns over press freedom

The intervention comes amid criticism from rights organisations and Western countries over what they describe as a worsening human rights record and restrictions on press freedom under President Tayyip Erdogan’s government in recent years.

As the government has tightened its control over mainstream media, several independent or opposition outlets have faced blocked access, throttling, financial penalties and other restrictions.