TurkSat removes TV, radio stations for natl security

By Yildiz Aktas

ANKARA (AA) - TurkSat has removed nearly two dozen TV and radio stations from its lineup due to the threat they pose to national security and their support for terrorist groups, said a source at the state-owned satellite operator.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, told Anadolu Agency that the stations’ satellite broadcasts were ceased under a statutory decree issued in July during Turkey’s current three-month state of emergency.

The source said 11 radio stations were removed from the lineup on midnight Wednesday, along with TV channels including Ozgur Gun, Jiyan, Azadi, Denge, HTV Hayat, IMC, TV 10, Zarok, and Mezopotamya.

Since the July 15 defeated coup, which led to the state of emergency, the Turkish government has shut down a total of three news agencies, 16 TV channels, 23 radio stations, 45 newspapers, 15 magazines, and 29 publishing houses over alleged links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and other terror groups.

Turkey’s government says that the defeated coup, which left over 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his FETO network.

Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, including the military, police, judiciary, and media, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.