Turkey seeks to arrest opposition broadcaster HalkTV representatives

Duvar English

As part of an ongoing investigation into the HalkTV, the broadcaster’s Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş and Program Coordinator Kürşad Oğuz were taken to the prosecutor’s office after police arrived at the Halk TV headquarters on Jan. 29.

This followed the detention of journalists Barış Pehlivan, Seda Selek, and Serhan Asker on Jan 28 over "concerning an expert witness who was appointed in ongoing investigations and court proceedings,” and were under the charges of “recording and disclosing private conversations” and “attempting to influence an expert witness.”

Pehlivan on Jan. 27 broadcast a phone call with Satılmış Büyükcanayakın, an expert witness in the string of cases against main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) mayors. According to the prosecutor’s office, the conversation was recorded and shared “without authorization.”

Toktaş and Oğuz were brought to Istanbul's Çağlayan Courthouse, where their statements were taken.

Pehlivan, Selek, and Asker denied the charges of attempting to influence a witness. Pehlivan stated he contacted the expert as a journalistic reflex, unaware the conversation would be aired. Selek and Asker also rejected any prior knowledge of the broadcast.

After their statements, Selek and Asker were released under judicial control, while Pehlivan’s legal process continued.

Following this process, Toktaş, Oğuz, and Pehlivan were referred to the on-duty criminal court of peace with a request for their arrest.

Selek later emphasized that they were being prosecuted merely for practicing journalism.

The Prosecutor’s Office released a statement regarding the case, stating, "Following the testimonies of suspects Barış Pehlivan and Serhan Asker, it was determined that Halk TV Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş and Program Coordinator Kürşad Oğuz were also involved in the alleged offenses. Therefore, an order was given to law enforcement to bring them in for questioning. After their statements are taken, the status of the other suspects will be determined accordingly."

On Jan. 29, bar associations from 52 provinces released a press statement against the detention wave towards journalists. The lawyers emphasized that since Dec. 22, 2024, 15 journalist detained in the country.