On the morning of 14 October 2026, Turkish police entered the headquarters of Halk TV in Istanbul. The operation was carried out as part of an investigation into allegations of corruption, tender fraud and money‑laundering. Officers seized broadcasting equipment and other assets inside the building, effectively cutting off the station’s ability to transmit live programming.
Following the raid, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, known by its Turkish acronym TMSF, was appointed as a temporary administrator of Halk TV. The fund took over the channel’s administration, a move that amounted to a government‑backed takeover of the outlet’s editorial and operational control. The seizure of equipment and the installation of the administrator meant that the station’s regular broadcast schedule was halted.
Turkish police raid opposition broadcaster Halk TV, detain 11 employees —— Turkish police raided the Istanbul headquarters of Halk TV, one of the country's leading opposition broadcasters, earlier today, interrupting its live transmission and placing the channel under state-appointed management. Halk TV announced on social media that police had entered the building and an administrator had been appointed to take control. The Istanbul prosecutor's office confirmed that 17 people were subject to arrest warrants and 11 had been detained during coordinated morning operations, according to AFP. The prosecutor's office said the operation formed part of an investigation into alleged corruption, bid-rigging, bribery and money laundering involving Halk TV chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu and associated companies. Authorities appointed Turkey's Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), a state body, to oversee the affected companies. The allegations remain under investigation and have not been established in court. The takeover adds to concerns over pressure on opposition media in Turkiye, with the Associated Press reporting that press freedom groups and opposition figures condemned the intervention.
During the same operation, police placed eleven people in custody. Those detained included employees of the channel; among them was the general director, Suat Toktaş, who was reported to be opposed to the management change. In parallel, prosecutors issued arrest warrants for seventeen suspects linked to the investigation.
The İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı announced that it is investigating Cafer Mahiroğlu, the owner of Halk TV, for corruption and embezzlement.
The İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı announced that it is investigating Cafer Mahiroğlu, the owner of Halk TV, for corruption and embezzlement. The probe that led to the raid and the subsequent administrative takeover is centered on accusations of bid‑rigging and money‑laundering tied to the channel’s business activities.
As soon as the police took control of the premises, Halk TV’s live broadcast was interrupted. The channel, which had been a leading opposition voice in Turkish media, went off the air while its equipment remained in police custody and its administration was transferred to TMSF.
The raid on Halk TV followed similar measures taken against the independent news site T24. Authorities had previously moved to restrict access to T24’s website, indicating a broader pattern of pressure on outlets that are critical of the government. The simultaneous actions underscored a coordinated effort to limit independent reporting.
Opposition leaders and journalists’ unions condemned the operation. Özgür Özel, a prominent opposition figure, said in French that "a dawn raid on a television channel, the appointment of a provisional administrator: only dictators would act this way. Unfortunately, they have brought our country to this situation." The Turkish Journalists’ Union issued a statement in French declaring, "We refuse this tyranny," reflecting widespread concern that the move threatened press freedom and signaled government overreach.
As of the date of the raid, Halk TV remains under the temporary administration of the TMSF, its equipment seized and its broadcast suspended. The channel’s future editorial independence depends on the outcome of the ongoing investigation and any subsequent judicial or administrative decisions regarding its ownership and management.