The interview caused a crisis at the channel: Statement from Halk TV regarding Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı!

An interview with Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, known for his proximity to the government, was published on the YouTube channel of Halk TV, which is owned by Cafer Mahiroğlu.

In the interview, the new reconciliation process, of which MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli is the architect, was discussed. Hosting Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı on Halk TV created a crisis at the channel.

In addition to the viewers, journalists who host programs on the channel, such as Barış Terkoğlu, Barış Pehlivan, Timur Soykan, and Murat Ağırel, reacted strongly to the inclusion of the pro-government figure Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı as a guest.

Following the backlash, the first statement came from the Halk TV front. Journalist İsmail Küçükkaya, who hosts the 'Yeni Bir Sabah' program on Halk TV, responded to the criticisms by saying, "We need to be able to listen to one another."

Küçükkaya stated the following during his live broadcast:

"I have been receiving a high volume of messages since 4:30 AM. We need to be able to tolerate each other's words. We need to be able to listen to one another. We may not like it. We may not agree with the views. But let's listen and see what is being said. 

An interview was conducted with Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı on Halk TV's YouTube channel. All this uproar is being caused by that. I don't understand it either. I don't know what happened or how it happened. 

But ultimately, that is a platform. They interviewed Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı because his name has been mentioned frequently in this reconciliation process in recent days. But friends, let's get rid of this lynching culture now. Let's learn to listen to each other."

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

The harshest reactions to Kütahyalı being hosted on Halk TV came from Barış Pehlivan, Barış Terkoğlu, Murat Ağırel, and Timur Soykan.

Journalist Barış Pehlivan, who stated that Kütahyalı played a role in the media aspect of political trials, shared his thoughts on his social media account.

"IT DOES NOT SUIT A HALK TV MICROPHONE"

Pehlivan stated, "I watched the Halk TV YouTube channel's interview with Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı. My views are summarized as follows:

1- A journalist interviews everyone. In fact, one can interview a terrorist, a mafia member, or a hitman... From this perspective, I do not fundamentally see a problem with interviewing Kütahyalı.

2- However, journalism is a relationship of contact and distance. That is, you can make contact with everyone, but you must also maintain your distance.

3- In the Halk TV YouTube channel's interview, it is understood that they do not know who Kütahyalı, the person being interviewed, actually is. This is very sad."

4- Our young reporter friend might not know. However, there are very experienced names at Halk TV who could have informed them and reminded them of recent history.

5- Kütahyalı is one of the media pillars of the decay in Turkey today. One leg of political cases is the media, used for manufacturing consent. Kütahyalı is one of the voluntary, conscious, and organized supporters of the conspiracies in Turkey after 2007. If he is a journalist, please do not call me a journalist.

6- Giving someone like this a 'wise' role on the issue of the Kurdish opening is unfortunately a huge mistake. At most, Kütahyalı should only be able to speak to Halk TV microphones in the position of a 'confessor'.

7- For instance, he should have been asked why, how, and in exchange for what he supported the Fethullahists who sabotaged previous resolution processes. Saying things Kütahyalı does not deserve, such as 'You provided important information,' does not suit a Halk TV microphone.

8- Halk TV is a television channel that is the pride of these lands. It has risen on the shoulders of the most honorable people in this country, from its owner to its interns. It was an interview that did not befit this accumulation and this effort," he stated.

"I WOULD SIGN MY NAME TO IT"

Quoting Pehlivan's post, journalist Barış Terkoğlu said, "I agree with dear Barış Pehlivan

and I would sign my name to it. What makes history out of what has been lived is what a person accumulates in their mind. Fortunately, our memory is as strong as life itself."

IT UPSET ME TO SEE HIM UNDER THE HALK TV LOGO

Stating that Kütahyalı acted as a hitman for FETÖ and the government, Timur Soykan expressed his frustration with the channel's management, saying, "I do not find it right for Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı's interview to be published on the Halk TV YouTube channel. It upset me to see this individual, who acted as a hitman for FETÖ members and the Palace regime, appear under the Halk TV logo, which has paid the price for the struggle for democracy."

Journalist Murat Ağırel, a regular guest on Halk TV, was also among those who reacted to the situation. 

Ağırel stated, "I cannot accept that the YouTube channel of Halk TV, where I appear weekly on the #KaydaGeçsin program, features the statements of a person who once sang the praises of the FETÖ terrorist organization, defended the conspiracy trials, and today still swings a sword at those who oppose the process carried out with the so-called terrorist organization, as if he were a reputable person. Seeing this on a platform where we have put in years of effort contradicts my principles and my understanding of journalism."

"PUT ASIDE YOUR FEELINGS TOWARD ME"

Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, who shared the interview on his social media account with the note, "Put aside your feelings toward me...", responded to the reactions by saying, "Why is the person speaking being discussed instead of the truths being spoken? What matters is not the person speaking; that individual is of no importance. The truths being spoken are what matter."

ROK MOCKED THE REACTIONS

Kütahyalı also posted, "Halk TV is in turmoil, but I should be the one angry at Halk TV :) Because they filmed it with such a camera angle that I look like the late Süleyman Demirel, sitting there weighing 150 kilos!!! What kind of image is that, you could have at least had me unbutton this jacket :)"