Turkish Police Raid Opposition Broadcaster Halk TV, Appoint Trustee as Live Broadcasts Halted

Turkish police raided the Istanbul office of the pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV early Wednesday and a government-appointed trustee took control of the channel, with live broadcasts cut off in what the station called a “dawn raid.”

Halk TV said “hundreds of police” entered its headquarters, staff were barred from entering the building, and its live broadcast was stopped at 6:30 a.m. (0330 GMT), after which pre-recorded programming began airing.

FAKTA

• What: Police raided Halk TV’s Istanbul headquarters; a state-appointed trustee (TMSF) took control of the channel.
• When: Early Wednesday, October 14, 2026; live broadcast cut at 6:30 a.m. local time.
• Why, according to prosecutors: The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office says it is investigating Halk TV chairman Cafer Mahiroglu over “bribery, tender-rigging, and laundering of assets derived from crime.”
• Arrests: Detention orders were issued for 17 people, 11 of whom were detained, prosecutors said; Mahiroglu is outside Turkey and is being sought.
• Reaction: The main opposition condemned the move; the channel’s editor-in-chief refused to work with the new management.

Halk TV police raid halts live broadcasts

“Hundreds of police have entered the building. Entry into the Halk TV building is not being permitted while a search is being conducted inside,” the broadcaster said in a statement on its website. Reporter Gamze Altunay said hundreds of officers were involved, with roads around the headquarters blocked.

Deniz Bayramoglu, a programmer at Halk TV, said on X that Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktas had tried to argue with the head of the trustee delegation to allow live programming to continue, but this was not permitted. Halk TV later said Toktas refused a proposal to work with the new management, describing the takeover as unlawful.

Prosecutors cite corruption probe

The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office said its financial crimes unit had conducted an investigation into chairman Cafer Mahiroglu over “bribery, tender-rigging, and laundering of assets derived from crime,” adding that evidence, witness statements and transaction records showed criminal activity, according to a statement carried by Turkish media.

Prosecutors said detention orders were issued for 17 people, of whom 11 were taken into custody; firms in which Mahiroglu is a partner or administrator have been seized, and the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) has been appointed as trustee, the statement added. Four of the remaining suspects were abroad, one was in a correctional facility and the last was still being sought, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also allege that about 14.46 million lira (around $293,000) in unrecorded bribes had been paid in connection with Izmir Metropolitan Municipality tenders and that proceeds were transferred to companies owned by or linked to Mahiroglu, citing financial intelligence reports and witness statements.

Opposition condemns the move

Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the main opposition New Party, condemned the move on X, writing: “Dawn raid on a television channel, appointing a trustee — only dictators would do such a thing.” He called the raid an attempt by the government to prevent people from accessing news.

The move makes Halk TV the fifth major Turkish news outlet to have a trustee appointed, following similar decisions involving Flash TV, Eko Turk, Haberturk and Tele1. It also comes two weeks after authorities shut down the website and social media accounts of T24, a leading digital news website, citing its “LGBT propaganda,” according to Euronews.

For more on regional developments, see Watan News Europe coverage.