Turkish police raided the headquarters of Halk TV, halting its live broadcasts and sealing off the studio in Istanbul.
The operation began early on Wednesday when officers from the financial crimes unit entered the facility and reported several irregularities.
Halk TV, long known for its pro‑opposition stance and sharp criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling AK Party, said employees were unable to enter the building.
Investigators seized broadcasting equipment and issued 17 arrest warrants linked to the channel’s owner, according to local media reports.
In the wake of the raid, the network announced a new manager would oversee day‑to‑day operations while legal proceedings continue.
The move fits into a broader clamp‑down on dissenting voices, as Ankara intensifies pressure on the political opposition.
A court earlier this year dissolved the leadership of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), a blow that officials say consolidated power in the capital.
The crackdown also targets prominent political figures; Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu remains imprisoned on corruption charges he denies.
Human‑rights advocates warn that the raid undermines press freedom and signals a shrinking space for independent journalism in Turkey.
With Halk TV’s live transmissions interrupted, millions of viewers are left without access to a critical and alternative news source.
