Özgür Özel criticizes government actions against Halk TV

Özgür Özel, leader of the YENİ Party, held a rally in Zeytinburnu to protest the recent intervention at the Halk TV Istanbul studios. During his speech, Özel claimed that authorities raided the station and halted broadcasts just four hours before Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was scheduled to present his defense regarding a legal indictment.

Özel accused the AK Party of undermining press freedom by using methods such as appointing trustees to media outlets and creating a 'pool media' system to favor pro-government organizations. He argued that these actions target not only specific individuals but also the broader opposition and the democratic hope of the country. He characterized the current administration's approach as a new media order designed to silence dissent through intimidation, arrests, and the seizure of media assets.