Özgür Radyo Broadcast Shut Down, Staff Detained

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Özgür Radyo’s terrestrial broadcast has been cut off.

Coming to the radio building, police units stormed the building breaking the door. 20 people including the radio staff were taken into custody. Ali Sönmez Kaya’s head was fractured due to the blow dealt but he is conscious.

Regie rooms of İMC TV and Hayatın Sesi TV were sealed by police raid and that their Internet broadcast were shut down today (October 4).

Broadcasting from İstanbul’s Kadıköy district since 1995 via frequency 95.1, Özgür Radyo celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

With the approval of the penalties imposed by the Radio and Television Supreme Board (RTÜK), It remained shut down for around four years. However, it continued its broadcast as “Özgür Gazete” on Internet.

It became one of the first radio channels broadcasting on Internet at the beginning of 2000s.

TV and radio channels are being shut down

Base of the decision is the decree no. 668 enacted right after the declaration of the OHAL.

Causing the shutting down of three news agencies, 16 TV and 23 radio channels, the decree enables new shutting downs by Minister approval.

Over 10 TV and radio channels were removed from TÜRKSAT, the national satellite, and that their broadcastings were shut down on September 28.

Yön Radio’s broadcasting was cut off on September 29 and İMC TV’s broadcasting was shut down on September 30. Access to the websites of Özgür Radio, İMC TV and Hayatın Sesi were blocked.

Med Nûçe TV’s broadcast through France-based Eutelsat satellite was shut down on October 3.

Regie rooms of İMC TV and Hayatın Sesi TV were sealed on October 4. (ÇT/TK)