Duvar English

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will boycott the TV channel CNN Türk due to its biased coverage against the party, opposition online news portal OdaTV reported on Feb. 4.

The CHP will also call on its voters not to watch the TV channel, in line with a decision taken at a recent Central Executive Meeting (MYK).

The party will initiate a disciplinary process against CHP politicians who appear on the programs of CNN Türk.

Apart from this, the CHP will file a complaint with CNN International about CNN Türk, asking them to launch an inquiry into its Turkish franchise due to its violation of “the basic principles of journalism.”

After OdaTV’s report was shared with the public, CNN Türk general manager Murat Yancı contacted the CHP headquarters and arranged an appointment, CHP adviser Mücahit Avcı announced on his Twitter on Feb. 5.

Avcı also confirmed OdaTV’s report, saying: “In line with the boycott, it has been decided that no one from the CHP will appear on CNN Türk. Also, the CHP voters will be urged not to watch CNN Türk.”

CHP deputy Tuncay Özkan had previously criticized CNN Türk, likening it to the pro-government news channel A Haber. “In the program broadcasted by CNN Türk, which is no longer different than A Haber, there is no one who has been authorized to state the feelings and thoughts of the CHP,” Özkan had tweeted on Feb. 1.

CNN Türk was established in 1999 in a partnership between Turner Broadcasting System International and Doğan Media Group, a company owned by Turkish business tycoon Aydın Doğan.

In 2018, the group was sold to Demirören Holding — a company known to have close links to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Since then, CNN Türk has been criticized for its coverage said to be favoring the AKP and taking a stance against the opposition.

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