Turkish main opposition leader visits radio station closed by gov’t

Duvar English

Turkish main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel on Oct. 28 visited Açık Radyo in Istanbul. 

The 29-year-old radio station was closed by the Turkish government due to a guest’s remark on the Armenian Genocide. 

Özel met with the station’s head Ömer Madra and other employees.

“For 30 years, Açık Radyo has been one of the few channels in Turkey whose microphones are open to everyone and where freedom of thought is embodied and has been able to preserve its existence until today. Unfortunately, the RTÜK administration, an extension of the malevolent mind that rules Turkey, targeted Açık Radyo,” Özel said, saying that Turkey has to be a democracy once again for the solution of these problems.

He also vowed to attend a program when the station was reinstated.

“I had a short experience as a radio host one summer in the past. When Open Radio opens (again), I will come and do a program here,” he said.

While the legal process regarding the reopening of Açık Radyo is ongoing, both its terrestrial broadcast and digital presence have been terminated.

Media watchdog RTÜK argues that the station did not implement its decision of a program suspension penalty, which is why the station is closed.

Following the closure of the radio station, hundreds of prominent figures from national and international media outlets, cultural and arts platforms, civil society organizations, ecological groups, and art initiatives joined the support campaign for Açık Radyo.