14.10.2026 11:10
Following the operation against Halk TV and the trustee decision, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's harsh criticism of the channel 4 days ago became a topic of debate again. Halk TV Board Chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu reacted with the words, 'The leader of nullity, Kılıçdaroğlu, and his team may be happy. The police are at Halk TV.' The CHP Group Chairmanship in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, however, in its written statement after the reactions against Kılıçdaroğlu, described the trustee decision as a blow to the public's freedom to receive information.
Following the operation against Halk TV and the decision to appoint a trustee, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's harsh statements about the channel four days ago became a topic of discussion again. While Halk TV Board Chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu made a post targeting Kılıçdaroğlu, the CHP Parliamentary Group also issued a written statement. While CHP reacted to the trustee decision, it also criticized that the party was targeted instead of President Erdoğan and those who made the decision.
KILIÇDAROĞLU HAD TARGETED HALK TV FOUR DAYS AGO
While debates over CHP's party congress process continued, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's statements about Halk TV on KRT TV came back to the agenda after the operation against the channel.
On the program, Kılıçdaroğlu questioned the fact that Halk TV owner Cafer Mahiroğlu was abroad and used the following statements: "You know there is Halk TV, its owner and so on. Why doesn't its owner come to Turkey? In which country in the world is there a television owner who is in a foreign country and broadcasts in his own country? In which country is there one?"
Kılıçdaroğlu also directed heavy criticism at the channel's broadcasts and said: "It broadcasts fake news 24 hours a day, 24 hours a day. I don't watch it. It can't be. It can't be. You will report accurate news."
These words of Kılıçdaroğlu began to be discussed again after the operation that took place four days later.
DAWN OPERATION AGAINST HALK TV
Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into Cafer Mahiroğlu, an operation was carried out against Halk TV. In the investigation, which included allegations of bribery, bid rigging, and money laundering of assets derived from crime, it was reported that proceedings were initiated against 17 suspects and 11 people were detained. It was announced that the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed as trustee to Halk TV and companies linked to Mahiroğlu.
HARSH REACTION FROM MAHİROĞLU TO KILIÇDAROĞLU
After the operation, Halk TV Board Chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu reacted to Kılıçdaroğlu in a post on his social media account. Mahiroğlu used the following statements in his statement: "The leader of nullity, Kılıçdaroğlu, and his team may be happy. Police are at Halk TV."
Mahiroğlu's words once again brought Kılıçdaroğlu's statements from a few days earlier to the center of discussions.
STATEMENT FROM CHP: BLOW TO THE PUBLIC'S FREEDOM TO RECEIVE NEWS
The CHP Parliamentary Group Leadership, on the other hand, reacted to the operation against Halk TV and the trustee decision with a statement it made after the reactions directed at Kılıçdaroğlu. The statement included the following expressions: "The dawn operation against Halk TV is a new and shameful link in the systematic pressure on the opposition media. The seizure carried out by citing investigations into the channel owner's commercial activities has dealt a heavy and direct blow to the public's freedom to receive news. The fact that employees were prevented from entering their workplaces by being treated as potential criminals is of a nature to be added to the dark pages of media history."
CHP, stating that media organizations cannot be the target of arbitrary interventions, expressed three main objections regarding the channel's broadcasts and employees' rights.
"BLOCKING THE CHANNEL'S LIVE BROADCAST IS UNACCEPTABLE"
The party's statement used the following expressions: "Blocking the channel's live broadcast is unacceptable."
"The broadcasting policy cannot be determined by excluding the channel's own reporters and imposing it from outside."
"Protecting employees' personal rights is an unpostponable priority."
CHP emphasized that criticizing a broadcaster's news and objecting to broadcasts considered wrong is a natural part of democratic life. However, it stated that allegations regarding any institution should be evaluated within the framework of the right to defense, the presumption of innocence, and legal safeguards.
NOTABLE STATEMENT FROM CHP: "ATTACKING US HAS NO COST"
In the statement by the CHP Parliamentary Group Leadership, while reacting to the trustee decision, objection was also raised to criticisms being directed at the party.
In the statement, it was argued that instead of criticizing those who appointed a trustee to the channel and President Erdoğan, accusations were made against CHP, and the following expressions were included: "We also see those who prefer to attack the Republican People's Party. Attacking us has no cost; criticizing those who appoint trustees, however, has a clear price. We understand this convenience, but it does not replace confronting the truth."
These words of the party drew attention in the debate where criticisms directed at Kılıçdaroğlu also came to the fore after the operation. However, Kılıçdaroğlu's name was not directly mentioned in the statement.
"NO VERDICT CAN BE REACHED BEFORE THE FACTS EMERGE"
CHP drew attention to legal safeguards by stating that the investigation must be clarified in all its aspects.
The party statement included the following assessment: "Reaching a prejudgment before the facts of today's incident and the scope of the investigation are clarified in all aspects is to trample the law underfoot."
It was emphasized that authorized institutions must act in accordance with the law, the process must be conducted transparently, and the public must be accurately informed.
"WE WILL DEFEND THE PUBLIC'S FREEDOM TO RECEIVE NEWS"
The CHP Parliamentary Group announced at the end of its statement that it would closely monitor the process regarding Halk TV.
The party, stating that its understanding of law should not change according to individuals and institutions, announced that it would continue its stance aimed at protecting the public's freedom to receive news and the rights of media workers.
Thus, the debate that began after the appointment of a trustee to Halk TV gained a new dimension with Kılıçdaroğlu's previous statements, Mahiroğlu's reaction, and the written statement of the CHP Parliamentary Group.