Turkish Police Raid Halk TV and Detain 11 People

Turkish police raided the Istanbul headquarters of Halk TV on Wednesday morning, halting the pro-opposition channel's live broadcasts and YouTube stream. Financial crimes police searched the building and detained 11 people as part of an investigation into the station's chairman, Cafer Mahiroğlu.

Prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 17 individuals on allegations involving money laundering, bribery, and the rigging of tenders. The channel is closely aligned with the Republican People's Party and frequently criticizes the ruling AK party and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Following the raid, employees were barred from the building and a new manager was appointed to run the station.

Cafer Mahiroğlu, who was reportedly outside the country during the operation, responded via social media. He asserted that the channel "belongs to the Turkish people" and "cannot be seized and surrendered to a trustee."