Discriminatory Statement About Conchita Wurst by Director of State Channel TRT

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İbrahim Eren, the Director General of the state channel TRT, has made a speech at the Summit of My Future Social Sciences held at the İbn Haldun University.

Stating that they do not think of participating in the Eurovision Song Contest as Turkey, Eren has referred to the voting system as well as the winner of Eurovision in 2014 Conchita Wurst as a reason for their decision. Eren has said, "I cannot make a live broadcast of someone who does not accept gender."

"You have deviated from your values"

The related part of Eren's speech is as follows:

"On top of it, as a public broadcaster, I cannot make a live broadcast of someone from Austria who has a beard, wears a skirt, does not accept gender, does not mention having any gender and adds, 'I am both a man and a woman at the same time,' at 9 p.m., at a time when children watch television."

Eren has also stated that he previously said to the European Broadcasting Union, "You have deviated from your values" and has claimed that there are also other countries that decided not to participate in the song contest after his statement. (TP/SD)