The channel's live broadcast was cut off at 6:30 am (0330 GMT), after which pre-recorded material began airing
Reuters
14 October, 2026, 12:00 pm
Last modified: 14 October, 2026, 12:02 pm
Turkish pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV said on Wednesday that police had raided its offices in Istanbul and that a government-appointed trustee had been assigned to run the channel.
"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 story on its website.
The channel's live broadcast was cut off at 6:30 am (0330 GMT), after which pre-recorded material began airing.
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 continue the broadcast, but had not been permitted to do so.
There was no immediate comment from authorities. It was not immediately clear why police had raided the offices or why a trustee had been appointed to run the broadcaster.
Rights groups and Western countries have criticised the government of President Tayyip Erdogan over what they describe as a deteriorating human rights record and restrictions on press freedom in recent years. The government has tightened its control over mainstream media, while access bans, throttling, fines and other restrictions have been imposed on several opposition or independent outlets.
Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the main opposition New Party, condemned the move, saying it was an attempt by the government to prevent people from accessing news.
"Dawn raid on a television channel, appointing a trustee — only dictators would do such a thing," Ozel said on X.
"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.
Ozel was referring to the removal of elected mayors as part of a legal crackdown on the opposition.