12.03.2025 11:50
The debate surrounding Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, who triggered a mass resignation at Halk TV, continues. Most recently, journalist İsmail Küçükkaya shared his thoughts on the events. Küçükkaya stated, "I found it excessive, exaggerated, and disproportionate. I think a storm is being made out of a teacup."
A new interview with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was published on Halk TV's YouTube account, featuring Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı discussing the 'new solution process'. However, the interview faced backlash from journalists at Halk TV. Serpil Yılmaz, Şule Aydın, Murat Ağırel, Timur Soykan, Barış Pehlivan, and Barış Terkoğlu left the channel.
A COMMENT FROM İSMAİL KÜÇÜKKAYA
The channel owner, Cafer Mahiroğlu, referred to the interview, which he claimed he was unaware of, as a "traffic accident," stating that he would not have approved the interview had he known about it. The interview with Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, which led to a "mass resignation" at the channel, was removed from the channel's YouTube account, and journalist İsmail Küçükkaya also provided an assessment on the matter.
"I FOUND IT EXAGGERATED AND DISPROPORTIONATE"
Küçükkaya expressed that he found the reactions of the resigning individuals exaggerated and disproportionate, stating, "Our friends tweeted, our friends at Halk TV. I have great affection for them, I have hosted them frequently on my program, and I supported their democratic rights and freedom of speech when they were imprisoned, and I found that very excessive, exaggerated, and I was quite surprised, to be honest. Everything that happened seemed absurd to me, strange from the beginning, all of it. However, I found this reaction to be unexaggerated and disproportionate," he said.
"A STORM IN A TEACUP"
Continuing his remarks, Küçükkaya criticized the resigning individuals by saying, "A storm is being made in a teacup," adding, "I am probably the one who has the least contact with Halk TV's Board Chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu. I don't call him; I talk when he calls me. However, Şule and Barış can meet with Cafer Bey whenever they want, especially Şule... If they see a mistake in this matter, that may be possible. I think a storm is being made in a teacup. These friends shone here, all of them. Let it be recorded. They shone here. But now, for example, I saw a statement from Murat Ağırel that I didn't like, to be honest. 'Halk TV, which I broadcast once a week.' No, you had identified yourself with Halk TV. These things can happen; you can part ways, but you part ways properly. Without fighting or brawling. The important thing is the institution," he stated.