Turkish police raided Halk TV’s Istanbul headquarters early Wednesday, halting broadcasts and detaining 11 people.
The raid occurred just hours before jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was due to begin his defence in a high-profile corruption trial. Authorities cite financial crimes, but critics call it a political move to silence dissent.
Officers entered the building of one of Turkey's most-watched news channels and stopped its live transmissions. Early on Wednesday, the channel went offline, as did its YouTube stream.
Eleven people were taken into custody during the operation. Authorities had sought 17 individuals in connection with an investigation into Halk chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu.
Halk TV confirmed the events on social media shortly after they began, writing: "Police raid at Halk TV headquarters! A trustee (manager) has been appointed, broadcasts have been halted,"
The timing of the raid drew immediate attention from political observers. It occurred hours before Ekrem İmamoğlu, widely viewed as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's primary political opponent, was scheduled to start his court defense against corruption charges. İmamoğlu has been in prison for over a year.
The defence's arguments were scheduled to start in the corruption trial of the jailed Istanbul mayor and some 400 other defendants. The Istanbul Bar Association denounced the move, noting it came hours before İmamoğlu was due to begin his defence.
Özgür Özel, an opposition leader, linked the raid to the political climate. He said: "They did this on the very day the defence was to begin in Turkey’s biggest political trial. Those who appoint trustees to municipalities and usurp the will of the people have now appointed a trustee to Halk TV, watched by millions. Because they are WEAK and COWARDLY!"
The Istanbul prosecutor's office provided an official justification for the action. It said the operations were carried out simultaneously that morning as part of an investigation into "corruption, bid-rigging and money laundering".
The prosecutor's office stated that the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), a public body, now manages Halk TV. Companies co-owned or managed by Mahiroğlu had previously been seized and a government-appointed trustee was put in charge of them.
Trustee appointments and media seizures
What we know
- The administration of Halk TV has been entrusted to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF).
- Companies co-owned or managed by Mahiroğlu had been seized and a government-appointed trustee was put in charge.
Still unclear
- Whether Halk TV's broadcasts have resumed.
- Whether Cafer Mahiroğlu has returned to Turkey or been questioned.
Cafer Mahiroğlu was not among those detained as he lives abroad. He posted on social media that seven of his relatives were arrested, adding: "Today is a dark day for Turkey"
Of the remaining six people named in the warrant, four were abroad, one was in a correctional facility and the last was still being sought. The locations of the four overseas suspects are unknown.
Journalists described a chaotic scene at the headquarters. Gamze Altunay, a Halk TV journalist, wrote: "At Halk TV, the management is now under a trustee. Broadcasting systems have been seized. Our channel is literally under blockade. I still can’t get into the institution where I’ve worked for 5 years, none of us can. The police haven’t left the building,"
Several reporters said on X that Halk journalists faced an initial entry ban to the building before being admitted, noting a heavy police presence inside.
Many in the country view Halk TV as aligned with the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and frequently critical of Erdoğan's ruling AK party. The Turkish Journalists' Union (TGS) reacted furiously to the raid, stating: "In recent years, the lawlessness used by the political authorities to overcome every problem has once again struck freedom of the press today...We do not accept this tyranny!"
Press freedom rankings and recent crackdowns
Turkey ranked 163rd out of 180 nations in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2026 World Press Freedom Index. The group noted that government control extends to 90% of national media outlets and condemned the "abusive prosecution" of critical publications in Turkey, which Erdoğan has led since 2003.
Years of state legal and financial pressure, corporate acquisitions and self-censorship have left the vast majority of Turkish media perceived as pro-government. This raid represents another move against news outlets considered critical of Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan and his administration.
Authorities took control of Tele1, another pro-opposition TV channel, in October 2025 and appointed a trustee to oversee broadcasts, removing all hard-news content. Although Tele1 continues to operate, its opposition viewpoint has been entirely erased.
Last year, Turkey's broadcasting regulator threatened Halk TV with possible closure due to its criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government, having previously imposed repeated sanctions on the channel.
Timeline of recent media restrictions
- October 2025Tele1 seizure Authorities seized control of Tele1, appointing a trustee to oversee broadcasts.
- Two weeks agoT24 shutdown Authorities shut down the website and social media accounts of T24, citing 'LGBT propaganda'.
- WednesdayHalk TV raid Police raided Halk TV headquarters hours before Ekrem İmamoğlu's defence was due to begin.
The Halk TV raid occurred just two weeks after authorities shut down T24, a major digital news site, by closing its online platforms and social media profiles over alleged "LGBT propaganda". Sources differ on the exact date of the T24 shutdown, with one placing it in September and another stating it was two weeks prior to the Halk TV raid.
It remains unclear whether Halk TV's broadcasts have resumed. The outcome of Ekrem İmamoğlu's defence arguments is also not yet known.
