An independent Turkish broadcaster has been pulled off the air over allegations of "spreading terrorist propaganda," adding to fears the government is cracking down on the media, its general coordinator says.
Turkey's satellite provider Turksat halted broadcasts of IMC TV at the request of an Ankara prosecutor investigating whether the channel supported a "terrorist" group, Eyup Burc said on Friday (local time).
"In Turkey, everything contrary to the official view is tossed in to the terrorism bag," Burc told Reuters, denying any ties with terror networks.
"This was clearly a political decision. The prosecutor has no legal right to seek our closure based on an allegation."
The plug was pulled on IMC mid-broadcast during a live interview with Can Dundar and Erdem Gul, two prominent journalists who were freed pending trial earlier on Friday after spending 92 days in prison.
The two editors from the opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet still face lifetime prison sentences for the publication of video footage purporting to show the state intelligence agency helping send weapons to Syria.
Istanbul-based IMC devotes much of its coverage to the Kurdish conflict, in which hundreds of civilians, militants and members of the security force have been killed since clashes erupted in July, wrecking a 2-1/2-year ceasefire in a three-decade insurgency.
It also covers other social issues, such as environmental protests, or speeches by opposition politicians that other media are loath to carry.
Burc said IMC would continue its programming on its website while seeking legal recourse to resuming its broadcasts.
Turkish authorities last year took over newspapers and television channels affiliated with a religious movement led by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, President Tayyip Erdogan's former ally until police linked with Gulen leaked a corruption probe into the then-prime minister's family and close circle.
Gulen has been charged over alleged "terrorist" activities.
Reuters
