RTÜK member requests investigation into TRT Haber's İmamoğlu broadcasts

Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) member Tuncay Keser has filed an official application with RTÜK to investigate the broadcasts aired by TRT Haber since March 20, 2025, within the scope of the investigation conducted into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB).

In his application, Keser stated that TRT Haber has been airing content that damages its identity as a public broadcaster. Emphasizing that fundamental principles such as impartiality, respect for the law, and the presumption of innocence were violated in the broadcasts, Keser requested that a detailed evaluation report on the matter be added to the Supreme Council's agenda.

''TRT BROADCASTING PRINCIPLES VIOLATED''

In his petition, Keser noted that legal boundaries were exceeded in the broadcasts made by TRT, especially following the detention of İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 20, 2025, and stated that on the same day, TRT Haber aired approximately 11 hours and 6 minutes of coverage under 78 different headlines titled "İBB Investigation".

It was pointed out that headlines frequently used in these broadcasts, such as "How the money traffic was tracked", "Did they set up a bribery ring at the İBB?", "Bundles of cash found in suspects' homes", and "They transferred money to İmamoğlu's companies", violated the presumption of innocence.

''PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE DISREGARDED''

Keser also provided examples from the program titled "Satır Başı" aired on TRT, noting that the program guest Hilmi Daşdemir's remarks, such as "Those who are part of a mafia-like structure will serve their sentences" and "We know that they should be in prison for many years as gang members," clearly declared individuals guilty, and that the presenter did not intervene.

It was also pointed out that subtitles such as "They Obtained Real Estate Through Bribery" and "They Laundered Money With Fake Invoices" were used in the "Gece Bakışı" program aired on the same day.

''CONFIDENTIALITY ORDER BREACHED''

Keser further emphasized that despite a confidentiality order in the ongoing investigation, footage belonging to the investigation file was broadcast repeatedly on TRT Haber. He stated that this situation is incompatible with the public broadcaster's responsibility for impartiality and compliance with the law, both legally and ethically.

Keser issued the following warning in his petition:

“TRT, which is financed by the public's taxes, must base its broadcasts on impartiality and respect for the law. The broadcasting principles determined by Law No. 6112 have been clearly violated. TRT's status as a public broadcaster has been damaged, and its broadcasts have ceased to be legally sustainable.”

The application also recalled that RTÜK had imposed sanctions on NOW TV, Halk TV, Tele1, and SÖZCÜ TV on March 20 due to their broadcasts regarding the same investigation process, and emphasized that TRT Haber's broadcasts should also be examined according to the same principles and standards.