Digiturk removes Gülenist channels from channel list
by Daily Sabah
ISTANBULOct 09, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Daily Sabah
Oct 09, 2015 12:00 am
After Tivibu and Turkcell TV+, early on Thursday Digiturk also removed channels linked with the Gülen Movement, a transnational organization led by U.S.-based fugitive imam Fethullah Gülen, by order of the Ankara Public Prosecutor's office.
In a written statement released early Thursday, Digiturk said that the company received a formal order in accordance with an investigation from the Ankara Public Prosecutor's office compelling the TV service provider to remove seven channels linked with the Gülen Movement: Kanaltürk, Samanyolu TV, Mehtap TV, S Haber, Bugün TV, Yumurcak TV, and Irmak TV.
Removing the channels is interpreted by some as a huge blow to the movement, as it reaches millions of people through its TV channels. In addition, Digiturk is arguably the most widely known and used TV service provider in Turkey.
As the Ankara Public Prosecutor's office sends TV service providers formal requests one by one, other providers such as Türksat and D-Smart are expected to receive the same request in due time.
Previously, Tivibu, a service provided by Türk Telekom that enables people to watch high definition TV over the Internet, removed the TV channels affiliated with the Gülen Movement from its channel list. Following Tivibu's decision, Turkcell TV+, a service provided by one of Turkey's leading cellphone operators, Turkcell, and a widely known Internet provider, Superonline, also removed channels linked with the Gülen Movement.
The Gülen Movement is accused of wiretapping thousands of peoples' phones and infiltrating state institutions to gain ultimate power in the country. In light of recent indictments, a life sentence is now being sought for Gülen, along with dozens of other suspect's accused of plotting a coup to overthrow the government.
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