RTÜK Issues Warning for "Erotic" Dance Program

The music videos of six artists and the program "No such dance" supposedly contain pornographic elements as put forward by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK). The council issued a reprimand to the Show TV channel because the programs on subject were broadcasted at times suitable for children and juveniles and without using the according protection symbol.

RTÜK announced that the warning would result in a monetary fine in case the given reprimand should be ignored. The council emphasized that clips that harm the mental and moral development of society were broadcasted by the television channels at times suitable for children and juveniles without using the protection symbol.

RTÜK deemed the dance figures of Cha-cha-cha and Mambo dances shown in the "No Such Dance program" "erotic" and found the dresses of the female dancers "obscene".

In addition to the reprimands, RTÜK also considered fragments of a series called "M.U.C.K." "obscene" and fined Show TV with TL 400,000 (€160,000).

Artists criticize reprimand

The artists whose clips subjected to the warning were Teoman with his song 'Tek Başına Dans'; Berkan with 'Beni Seviyor'; Murat Boz with 'Geri Dönüş Olsa'; Murat Dalkılıç with 'Merhaba Merhaba'; Bengü with 'Saat Üç' and Ziynet Sali with "Bize Yeter'. The artits criticized the RTÜK decision.

Murat Boz: This is my first porn, my first pornographic music video. The issue that a person thinks of porn when watching the clip goes as far as the necessity of sex education at primary school. I suppose it would be porn to combine those kissing scenes with music.

Murat Dalkılıç: Is this a joke? So should we play the Smurfs in order to do the right thing? Music can host everything as a feeling from within! There is such a freedom and right!

Bengü: It is connected to the perspective how much "problematic" a visual can be. Even if they banned the clip the singing and listening would still continue. They cannot ban it from the radio. (ÇT/VK)