Turkey takes Kurdish TV channels off the air
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Turkish media and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), reported that Türksat, Turkey’s communications satellite operator, removed several Kurdish channels from the air on Wednesday.
A member of the High Commission of TV and Radio (RTUK) announced that these channels, including Jiyan TV, Zarok TV, Hayatin Sesî TV, and Van TV, were removed from Türksat under the emergency powers granted under the state of emergency imposed after the attempted coup of July 15.
HDP in a statement accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of limiting free speech. “AKP government is trying to shut down different voices. The voice of the free expression cannot be stopped,” HDP tweeted on Wednesday.
The party stated that the channels Aralarında Azadi TV, Denge TV, Jiyan TV, Hayatın Sesi, TV 10, Van TV, and Zarok TV had all been taken off the air.
Press freedom advocates, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), reported on Wednesday that BTK, Turkey’s telecommunications regulator, had censored the website of Dicle News Agency (DIHA), a pro-Kurdish site, “for the 46th time since July 24, 2015,” citing DIHA.
A member of the High Commission of TV and Radio (RTUK) announced that these channels, including Jiyan TV, Zarok TV, Hayatin Sesî TV, and Van TV, were removed from Türksat under the emergency powers granted under the state of emergency imposed after the attempted coup of July 15.
HDP in a statement accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of limiting free speech. “AKP government is trying to shut down different voices. The voice of the free expression cannot be stopped,” HDP tweeted on Wednesday.
The party stated that the channels Aralarında Azadi TV, Denge TV, Jiyan TV, Hayatın Sesi, TV 10, Van TV, and Zarok TV had all been taken off the air.
Press freedom advocates, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), reported on Wednesday that BTK, Turkey’s telecommunications regulator, had censored the website of Dicle News Agency (DIHA), a pro-Kurdish site, “for the 46th time since July 24, 2015,” citing DIHA.