The Turkish government ordered a pro-Kurdish television station to be taken off air on allegations that it was broadcasting "terrorist propaganda" for militants, the AFP reported Saturday.
The network, IMC TV said in a statement that Ankara prosecutors had sent a letter to Turksat, Turkey's leading satellite company, ordering it to cancel the channel. The government's request was immediately fulfilled.
In Turkey, "making propaganda for a terror organization" usually means publishing or broadcasting in support of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) or other outlawed groups.
IMC TV, which was founded in 2011 and also reports on women's, leftist, and environmental issues, said it was not affiliated with "any party or organization."
"We will of course use all legal means to defend ourselves against these baseless accusations," the statement said.
Meanwhile, the channel has continued to broadcast via its website.
There is growing alarm over the state of freedom of expression in Turkey, especially for pro-Kurdish media, as several journalists and other public figures have faced legal action on charges of insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
