TV channels axed in Turkey

The Turkish government has ordered the closure of 12 local TV networks, including a children’s channel, claiming they were spreading “terrorist propaganda.”

The channels are aimed at the country’s Kurdish-speaking population and have been removed from pay TV network Turksat’s service, according to local reports.

Among channels affected are Hayatın Sesi, Van TV, Jiyan TV, Azadi TV and Zarok TV, which launched last year as the first Kurdish-language children’s channel.

At the time of its launch it said it had acquired series including SpongeBob SquarePants, The Amazing World of Gumball and Adventure Time, while it also aired locally produced educational programming.

The closures come after the attempted coup against state institutions in Turkey on July 15, which resulted in the government declaring a three-month state of emergency.

Since then, multiple media outlets have been shut down by the Turkish government using the powers granted under the state of emergency.