TRT Receives Warning For Saying “Babe Opposition”

Radio and Television Higher Council (RTÜK) issued a warning on Turkey’s public television TRT for saying “babe opposition” for representing Turkey’s second largest opposition party (MHP) on the evening news.

The incident took place on January 25, 2014 as evening news presenter Anda Özmen made the announcement of a story related to Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on the upcoming elections. 

Özmen said the word “yavru” - a word used for “babies as well as pejoratively against women”. 

RTÜK issued the warning with a majority vote. 

Expert report: TRT humiliated MHP 

A case report prepared by experts cited that while the expression qualified the political capacity of MHP, it humiliated the party.  

The report also observed that the presenters had apologized several times in different platforms and TRT triggered its inner inspection mechanisms by launching an investigation on the presenter. 

Some of the highlights from the report were as follows: 

“TRT, a public television and an accessible network throughout the country has employed a sloppy expression, showing that it didn’t act responsibly as a media outlet.” 

Considering the expert report, RTÜK ruled that TRT violated Code 6112 on “humiliating expression” and issued a warning penalty. (EA/BM)