JINHA

ISTANBUL- Yesterday, police raided the offices of Özgür Radyo, İMC, Hayatın Sesi and TV10. 17 people, including our reporter Öykü Dilara Keskin had been taken into custody during the raid on Özgür Raydo. As our reporter Öykü Dilara and 15 people were released last night, the detention period of Ahmet Ayva has been extended for another file against him.

As many channels and 11 radios stations have been shut down and sealed within the scope of the decree law No. 668 which was issued during the process of State of Emergency declared following the attempted coup on July 15, police raided the offices of Hayatın Sesi, İMC TV, Özgür Radyo and TV10 yesterday (October 4). First, the police raided the office of Hayatın Sesi and sealed the office. The staff members of the channel said, “We will continue to report via different channels as the voice of workers, women, young people and those who demand peace.”

Then, police raided the office of the İMC TV and cut the broadcast of the channel. The channel’s staff members, who had gathered inside the TV studio, shouted the slogans such as, “Free press cannot be silenced” and “Don’t stay silence, free press is a right” on the live broadcast. The police sealed the channel’s regie and system rooms following cutting the broadcast.

Police and Financial Department officials raided the office of Özgür Radyo in the same day. The staff members of the radio didn’t open the door and said, “We will continue our broadcast, we won’t surrender”. Thereupon many riot police came into the office of the radio and broke the door of the office. 17 people, including our reporter Öykü Dilara Keskin had been taken into custody in the office by being battered. The detained people were taken to the Istanbul Police Headquarters. According to the reports of the ETHA (Etkin News Agency), police dragged Özge Doğan, member of the SGD, by her hair on the ground and director of the ETHA, Önder Öner was injured in the knee during the detention. Last night our reporter Öykü Dilara and 15 people were released last night and the detention period of Ahmet Ayva has been extended for another file against him.

Police also raided the office of the 10 TV in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district.

The HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) and CHP (Republican's People Party) MPs, representatives of political parties, NGOs, academics, writers and artists condemn the closure of free press.

(ro/mg/gd)