Police raided the headquarters of Halk TV in Istanbul early on Wednesday, October 14, disrupting the broadcaster’s live transmission and appointing an administrator to take over the network’s management.
Halk TV announced the development in a statement published on X, confirming that police had entered its premises and that broadcasts had been suspended.
“Police are inside the Halk TV building. An administrator has been appointed to take over the management of the station. Live broadcasts have been halted,” the statement said.
According to Turkish media reports, officers entered the building at around 5:30 a.m. and conducted searches on the premises. The road outside the headquarters was blocked, while footage shared on social media showed television employees gathered outside after being denied entry.
Halk TV’s news director, Suat Toktaş, reportedly attempted to ensure that broadcasting could continue by contacting the appointed administrator, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
The operation has sparked criticism in Turkey, with opposition representatives condemning the intervention as a blow to press freedom.
Halk TV is widely regarded as a broadcaster aligned with the Turkish opposition and provides extensive coverage of the country’s political developments.
The suspension of broadcasts and the appointment of an administrator have raised concerns about media independence and the ability of critical voices to operate freely in Turkey.
As of the time of reporting, full details regarding the legal grounds for the operation and the decision to appoint an administrator had not been made public.
