Police raid main TV channel backing Turkey's opposition

Turkish police raided the headquarters of a major opposition-friendly television station in Istanbul on the day jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was due to begin his defense against corruption charges.

The police attack on the Halk TV channel supporting the opposition in Turkey

15/10/2026 October 15, 2026 Turkish police raided the headquarters of a major pro-opposition television station in Istanbul on Wednesdazy, the day jailed Istanbul Mayor Akram Imamoglu was scheduled to begin his defense against corruption charges.

On Wednesday morning, live broadcasts were suspended, Hulk TV's headquarters in Istanbul were searched, and a new manager was appointed by the government to run the outlet. An arrest warrant was issued for the station's CEO, Kafer Mahiroglu, who currently lives in London. According to the prosecutor, 11 people were arrested.

Türkiye has faced criticism for years due to restrictions on press freedom. Halk TV is one of the country's best-known opposition television channels and regularly broadcasts critical reports about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP). After the attack, journalists were first prevented from entering the building. Pre-recorded programs were broadcast instead of live reports.

The timing is critical: Hulk TV was attacked on the very day that imprisoned Istanbul mayor Akram Imamoglu was to begin his defense against corruption charges in court. This channel is an important source of information for those following the trial.

Imamoglu, who won the Istanbul municipal elections in 2019 and remained in office until his arrest on March 19, 2025, is one of Erdogan's most important rivals and is considered a beacon of hope for the opposition. He is still expected to run for president in 2028.

He is accused of creating and managing a criminal organization as well as various related financial crimes. Prosecutors are seeking 2,352 years in prison on 142 charges. Imamoglu denies these charges and argues that the case is politically motivated.

The attack is related to the investigation of Kafir Mahiroglu

Prosecutors in Istanbul said the raid on Hulk TV was linked to an investigation into its CEO Mahiroglu, who is accused of bribery, bid rigging and money laundering.

They said that arrest warrants have been issued for 17 out of 11 people. Assets belonging to companies allegedly linked to Mahiroglu were also seized and a trustee was appointed to run the companies.

The opposition responded with strong criticism of the police attack. Özgur Ozel, leader of the New Social Democratic Party (Yeni Party), said that this is a dark day for Turkey.

"People's right to information is taken away for political reasons," Mahiroglu said.

"Showing solidarity with Hulk TV means supporting the fight for democracy in Türkiye," Özel said.

He added that "only dictators" launch a "dawn attack on a TV channel, appointing a trustee [...]" and criticized the fact that this happened on the day Imamoglu was supposed to start his defense.

The Turkish Journalists' Union (TGS) also condemned the attack on Turkey's Platform X, describing it as arbitrary and arguing that the press is free and should not be censored.

The editor of Swat Toktash tried in vain to convince the new director appointed by the government to continue the live broadcast. In a video released by the TV channel, he said what is happening is "illegal".

Hulk TV began broadcasting on January 10, 2005, and its live coverage gained widespread attention, particularly during the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Kafer Mahiroglu took charge of this station in 2020.

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Burak Ünveren is a multimedia editor with a focus on Turkish foreign policy and German-Turkish relations.