Türkiye’s pro-opposition Halk TV editor-in-chief arrested over secretly recorded broadcast

Halk TV’s Editor-in-Chief, Suat Toktas, was arrested on Thursday following a court ruling as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Key Details

• Toktas was arrested for authorizing the broadcast of the recorded conversation with an expert working in high-profile cases.
• Journalists Baris Pehlivan and Kursad Oguz were released under judicial control and must report to the police on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Halk TV’s News Director Serhan Asker and journalist Seda Selek were also detained on Wednesday but were later released under judicial control with a travel ban.
• The Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Workers’ Party of Türkiye condemned the detentions and called for protests in front of Halk TV.
• Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc stated that the investigation was not related to journalistic activities but was initiated due to the “violation of communication privacy.”

Background

The arrest came after Halk TV aired a secretly recorded phone conversation between journalist Baris Pehlivan, program coordinator Kursad Oguz, and S.B., an expert witness in a case involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

The conversation was recorded without consent and later broadcast. Prosecutors launched an investigation, citing violations of “confidentiality of communication” and “attempting to influence an expert witness.”