Administrative court halts blackout of broadcaster TELE 1

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The Ankara 4th Administrative Court has halted the five-day "blackout" of TELE 1 imposed by the Television and Radio Supreme Council (RTÜK).

Examining the application of RTÜK members Okan Konuralp and İlhan Taşçı, the court has announced its interim judgement, unanimously ruling that the execution of the "blackout" shall be suspended.

In its ruling, the Ankara 4th Administrative Court has noted that if the sanction in question "is put into force, it will cause irrecoverable damages." Accordingly, a stay of execution has been given "until the Ankara Regional Administrative Court hands down a judgement on the related broadcast."

RTÜK member İlhan Taşçı has announced the ruling of the administrative court on his Twitter account. Taşçı has briefly said:

"In the lawsuit that we filed into the RTÜK's 5-day blackout imposed on TELE 1, the Ankara Administrative Court has concluded that the related sanction is directly against freedom of expression and an interference in citizens' right to get information and unanimously ruled for a stay of execution."

What happened?

Referring to the Main News Bulletin aired on TELE 1 on April 30 and May 24, the RTÜK fined the broadcaster with a "blackout" for five days on the ground that the (b) clause of the Article 8/1 of the Law on the Establishment and Broadcast Services of Radio and Televisions was violated. (HA/SD)