Halk TV owner Cafer Mahiroğlu reacts sharply to Kılıçdaroğlu: He is targeting us

In a statement he released, Cafer Mahiroğlu said of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was brought to the head of the CHP with a decision of absolute nullity, "He is sending a message to certain places. He thinks that silencing Halk TV will be enough for him to move comfortably; he is proving once again that he does not know the CHP electorate at all."

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu decided against holding his planned group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly and instead addressed party members at the CHP Headquarters. During his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu made notable remarks regarding Halk TV and the channel's Chairman of the Board, Cafer Mahiroğlu. Kılıçdaroğlu stated, "We will change this order, we will change it! Rest assured, we will change this order. But while we are fighting, while we are fighting for rights, we must be together. We must stand shoulder to shoulder. There are owners of some television channels whose owners are in London and who do not dare to come to Turkey. Just as delegates are bought and sold with money, television channels should not be bought and sold with money. I will prevent that too, I will prevent that too... We will carry out the struggle within this framework. We will do it for the unity of the family, for its integrity. We will fight together. If we don't do this, we will have problems."

Mahiroğlu issued a harsh statement directed at Kılıçdaroğlu. Reminding that they purchased Halk TV approximately 7 years ago, Mahiroğlu stated that throughout this process, despite their opposition broadcasting policies and harsh criticisms, they had not received any direct threats or warnings from the AKP government or state institutions. Expressing that the channel had faced various fines and was subjected to screen-blackout sanctions, Mahiroğlu said that all of these were processes experienced with regulatory bodies within the scope of broadcasting activities, and that most of the fines were overturned by the courts. Without naming him, Mahiroğlu also reacted to the statement by CHP deputy Mustafa Adıgüzel, saying, "They have become so emboldened regarding pressure, threats, and blackmail that there was even a time before they openly targeted us from the podium. A CHP deputy conducts an interview and says, 'Give us Halk TV, and we will reverse the perception in 3 months'; that is how much they know their own voters. Another one suggests, 'Support us; we will do whatever is necessary, financially or morally.' When they couldn't get results with these, they are now openly calling to 'silence Halk TV'."

In a statement he made via social media, Mahiroğlu included the following remarks:

"Dear Turkish people, dear Halk TV viewers;

Despite our opposition stance and broadcasts that also included harsh criticisms on Halk TV, which we purchased approximately 7 years ago, we have neither received any warnings nor threat messages from the AKP government or any state institutions.

They issued many fines, they blacked out our screen, but all of it took place with the regulatory body within our field of activity. Most of the fines were returned by the courts.

Today, however, we are at a completely different level regarding pressure, threats, and blackmail. Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu is directly targeting Halk TV and me; he is pointing us out as a target.

He is sending a message to certain places.

He thinks that silencing Halk TV will be enough for him to move comfortably; he is proving once again that he does not know the CHP electorate at all.

They have become so emboldened regarding pressure, threats, and blackmail that there was even a time before they openly targeted us from the podium. A CHP deputy conducts an interview and says, 'Give us Halk TV, and we will reverse the perception in 3 months'; that is how much they know their own voters.

Another one suggests, 'Support us; we will do whatever is necessary, financially or morally.'

When they couldn't get results with these, they are now openly calling to 'silence Halk TV'.

This channel is under the guarantee of Halk TV viewers and the laws of the Republic of Turkey.

As a citizen of the Republic of Turkey, I have broadcast with my belief in the unity and solidarity of my country. I have stood on the side of justice, law, democracy, and humanity. I am in the same place today.

Therefore, Halk TV will not abandon its principle of independent and democracy-bound broadcasting under any circumstances."