Fatih Altaylı's 'Halk TV' claim: He said 'a trustee could be appointed' and named names

Journalist Fatih Altaylı, in an article he wrote regarding the issuance of an arrest warrant for Halk TV owner Cafer Mahiroğlu, used the following expressions: "It is not difficult to predict the steps the AKP will take from here on. An arrest warrant in absentia will be issued for Cafer Mahiroğlu. After that, one does not need to be a prophet to foresee that a trustee will be appointed to Halk TV. It is highly probable that they will appoint one of the AKP supporters within the CHP as a trustee and say, 'Look, we appointed a CHP member there.' It would not be surprising to see Aslı Baykal or one of the names from TGRT."

In the relevant section of his column today, Fatih Altaylı wrote the following lines regarding the arrest warrant issued for Cafer Mahiroğlu:

"The relationship between Halk TV and the opposition, especially the CHP and of course the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), has been an issue the government has been trying to resolve for a long time.

Why would Halk TV support the opposition when it could benefit from the blessings of the government and become wealthy!

Why would a business person engage in this type of broadcasting that would ruin their relationship with the government!

There must be a financial relationship established with the CHP, the İBB, and even other opposition municipalities behind this broadcasting!

The main reason behind turning Cafer Mahiroğlu into a defendant is to find answers to these questions in the government's mind.

If they can find the answer they are looking for there, they can then launch a new judicial move against the municipalities and even the CHP.

As far as we know, Cafer Mahiroğlu has been in London for a long time. It is normal for him to be there since his business and life are established there, but he has not been coming to Turkey, where he used to visit frequently, for a long time, presumably because he suspected what would be done to him."

It is not difficult to predict the steps the AKP will take from here on.

An arrest warrant in absentia will be issued for Cafer Mahiroğlu.

After that, one does not need to be a prophet to foresee that a trustee will be appointed to Halk TV.

It is highly probable that they will appoint one of the AKP supporters within the CHP as a trustee and say, 'Look, we appointed a CHP member there.'

It would not be surprising to see Aslı Baykal or one of the names from TGRT.

After that, they will dive into Halk TV's accounts and look to see if there are any financial dealings with the CHP or opposition municipalities.

If they find any, they will create a separate legal process from that as well.

All these events should be considered together with the 'Kurultay' (party congress) investigation targeting the CHP.

It seems that the government, having lost hope of fixing the economy, will now only seek the path to remaining in power by 'rounding up' the opposition!"