14.10.2026 12:37
Following the appointment of a trustee to Halk TV, the channel's owner, Cafer Mahiroğlu, who is a fugitive abroad, targeted CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Mahiroğlu claimed that Kılıçdaroğlu had "fired today's signal flare" three days ago. CHP Women's Branch Chairwoman Ayten Gülsever said, "A media owner living abroad targeting our Chairman, Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, is at least as dangerous as the intervention against Halk TV."
After the appointment of a trustee to Halk TV, the remarks of the channel’s fugitive owner Cafer Mahiroğlu directed at Kılıçdaroğlu drew a reaction from the CHP. CHP Women’s Branch General Chair Ayten Gülsever emphasized that they will defend both press freedom and the party’s legal rights.
MAHİROĞLU’S “NULLITY LEADER” POST In the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on charges of “bribery,” “rigging a tender,” and “money laundering,” TMSF was appointed as trustee to companies considered linked to Mahiroğlu, including Halk TV.
Mahiroğlu, who has an arrest warrant issued for him and is abroad, announced the operation from his social media account, saying: “The nullity leader Kılıçdaroğlu and his team may be happy. Police are at Halk TV.”
“HE FIRED TODAY’S SIGNAL FLARE” CLAIM Mahiroğlu later shared a video on his X account. In the video, Mahiroğlu, claiming that Kılıçdaroğlu paved the way for the trustee process, said: “I cannot avoid mentioning Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Three days ago he came out and fired today’s signal flare, just as he did before. The people gave you the best answer, and they will, Mr. Kemal. History will never forget you and your insidiousness.”
“PRESS FREEDOM IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR POLITICAL STRUGGLE” There was a response to Mahiroğlu’s remarks from CHP Women’s Branch General Chair Ayten Gülsever. In a statement on her social media account, Gülsever said:
“Press freedom is the cornerstone of our political struggle. We do not accept interference in any broadcasting organization, especially Halk TV. We strongly condemn it.
However; the fact that a media owner living abroad targets our General Chair Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the founding party of our Republic, the CHP, and the political understanding it represents is at least as dangerous as the interference in Halk TV. We will resolutely defend both press freedom and our party’s legal rights!”
CHP Women’s Branch General Chair Ayten Gülsever KILIÇDAROĞLU HAD ALSO CRITICIZED HALK TV Kılıçdaroğlu, who returned to the CHP General Chairmanship with the court’s “absolute nullity” ruling, had recently accused Halk TV of making false news in a live broadcast he appeared on, and criticized the channel owner for being abroad. Mahiroğlu, meanwhile, described Kılıçdaroğlu as the most unfortunate case of Turkish politics.