The Turkish Broadcasting Authority (RTÜK) suspended Sözcü TV's programming for ten days on Thursday, accusing it of "inciting hatred and hostility." This sanction comes after the channel was recently fined. The regulator warned that in the event of a repeat offense, its broadcasting license could be revoked altogether.
Repression intensified after Imamoglu's arrest
The suspension of Sözcü TV is part of a series of sanctions targeting media outlets critical of the government. Three other channels, including Halk TV, have also been targeted. Meanwhile, eleven journalists have been arrested since the start of the wave of protests sparked by the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. While several have been released, two remain in custody.
The BBC, for its part, denounced the expulsion of one of its correspondents, whom the Turkish authorities accused of representing "a threat to public order." For the opposition, these measures reflect a growing desire to stifle press freedom in the run-up to sensitive political events.
