Closure of critical TV channel on Parliamentary agenda

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Having started broadcasting on November 30, Olay TV, a critical TV channel, was closed by its license holder Cavit Çağlar on December 25.

Speaking at the last main news bulletin of the channel, Olay TV Editor-in-Chief Süleyman Sarılar briefly said:

"The right of broadcasting and license of Olay TV belongs to Cavit Çağlar. He has 100 percent of shares. But, in order to start broadcasting again, Hüseyin Köksal invested capital and they started working together.

"Now, this partnership is coming to an end. Mr. Köksal has decided to end his partnership with Mr. Çağlar. Because we have understood that we cannot continue with this broadcasting any longer.

"Mr. Çağlar said, 'I am under huge pressure by the government. I am under immense pressure, I cannot continue.'

"He even said that he was given a list of people to replace us all and manage Olay TV. He said that he was under pressure to continue broadcasting with another understanding of journalism and other journalists."

While these statements and the abrupt closure of the TV channel have caused an outrage, especially among the opposition, Cavit Çağlar has made a statement and dismissed the allegations of pressure.

Before the channel was closed last week, it had also been alleged that Olay TV would be closed because it caused tension between Süleyman Sarılar and Cavit Çağlar that the weekly Parliamentary group meeting of the HDP was broadcast in full only by the Olay TV.

'How many times did Presidency meet him?'

Against this backdrop, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul MP Dilşat Canbaz Kaya has submitted a Parliamentary question.

Addressed to Fuat Oktay, the Vice President of Turkey, HDP MP Canbaz Kaya has briefly indicated the following:

"Having started broadcasting on November 30, Olay TV had to stop broadcasting in the evening of December 25.

"According to Chief Editor Süleyman Sarılar, who spoke as a guest at the Olay TV Main News, the owner of the channel Cavit Çağlar said, 'There is immense pressure on me from the government, I cannot continue.'

"Is the mounting censorship and pressure on the media enforced by the Presidential Communications Directorate?

"Did the Presidency put any pressure for the closure of Olay TV?

"How many meetings have taken place between Cavit Çağlar, one of the investors of the Olay TV, and the Presidency so far? What is the content and scope of these meetings?" (DŞ/SD)