Turkey: TV channel deemed pro-Kurdish forced to close

Launched on November 30, Olay TV announced its closure on Friday, December 25 (Screenshot of a YouTube video).

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Less than a month after its launch, Turkish television channel Olay TV announced its closure on Friday, December 25.

Its main investor decided to withdraw its funding, accusing the editorial team of lacking neutrality and of relaying the point of view of the pro-Kurdish opposition. 

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The first images on Olay TV appeared on November 30, less than a month ago.

It was live, on Friday, December 25, that the team announced the closure of this channel.

According to the channel's executive director, journalists have tried to keep their distance from all parts of Turkish society, however polarized it may be.

But the main investor is said to have received significant pressure from the Turkish government, pressure which led it to withdraw its funding. 

Olay TV was majority owned by businessman Cavit Caglar who is also a former minister.

The latter denies having been intimidated by the authorities, but on the other hand accuses the editorial team of being too close to the

HDP

.

The second opposition party in Turkey is seen by the government as a showcase for the Kurdistan Workers' Party, the PKK, a terrorist organization for Ankara. 

The HDP rejects this link and accuses the authorities of wanting to suffocate this opposition party by arresting several dozen of its members under cover of terrorism charges.

On the other hand, the vast majority of media in Turkey are owned by relatives or allies of President

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

.

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