The police operation conducted on the morning of Wednesday, October 14, at Halk TV and the appointment of the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) as a trustee have received extensive coverage in the international press. As Reuters, BBC, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, Kathimerini, and Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported the development to their readers, concerns regarding press freedom in Turkey stood out in the news.
It was reported that within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into Halk TV Chairman of the Board Cafer Mahiroğlu, detention warrants were issued for 17 people, and 11 individuals have been detained. Companies in which Mahiroğlu is stated to be a partner or manager were seized, and the TMSF was appointed as a trustee.
It was reported that the live broadcast was interrupted after police teams entered the channel's headquarters in Istanbul in the morning hours. The development was addressed by international media organizations not only in terms of the judicial investigation but also within the framework of debates on opposition media and press freedom.
HEADLINES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS
Reuters announced the news with the headline, "Turkish prosecutors appoint trustee to manage opposition Halk TV." While the agency stated that the operation has brought concerns about press freedom in Turkey back to the agenda, it reported that the investigation is based on allegations of bribery, bid-rigging, and money laundering.
The BBC used the headline, "Police raid opposition TV channel in Turkey, live broadcasts stopped." The report stated that Halk TV is seen by many in Turkey as being close to the CHP and is known for its critical broadcasts against the AKP government.
Bloomberg reported the development to its readers with the headline, "Turkey seizes popular opposition TV channel in morning raid." The organization described Halk TV as one of Turkey's most-watched opposition television channels.
The Washington Post brought the operation to the agenda along with warnings from press freedom organizations. Greece-based Kathimerini wrote that police teams entered the office of the opposition television channel, while RFI also announced that police teams had taken control of the channel's headquarters and that broadcasts had been stopped.
The common emphasis in international news was that the move against Halk TV should be evaluated in conjunction with discussions on the operating conditions of opposition media organizations and press freedom in Turkey.
News Source: 12punto
