Turkey's most-watched news channel, Halk TV, was seized in a dawn raid by police, who replaced live broadcasts with folk dancing and old movies. A state-appointed trustee took control of the pro-opposition broadcaster following an investigation into its chair, Cafer Mahiroğlu, for alleged bribery and money laundering. Financial investigators sealed the main office in Istanbul and detained 17 people, including Mahiroğlu, who denies wrongdoing and lives in the UK.
The move follows the blocking of independent news site T24 and comes amid a broader crackdown on dissent. Authorities claim the action targets a $18bn Ponzi-like investment scheme that devastated retail investors, though opposition leaders denounce it as political repression. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Erdoğan's rival, remains jailed on corruption charges.
The takeover narrows critical news sources in a country already ranked 163rd for press freedom. Western leaders have largely avoided condemnation, prioritizing Turkey's strategic role against regional instability.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing