RTÜK: "Magnificent Century" Series Clashes with "Moral Values"

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) issued a warning to the Turkish television station Show TV on the grounds of the series "Magnificent Century" ('Muhteşem Yüzyıl'). The series about the life of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent was criticized by Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç and members of the Prosperity Party (SP).

Feelings ran high already after promotional material had been broadcasted from 11 December onwards and billboards to advertise for the series were posted. Some people demanded to cancel the series even before the first episode had been broadcasted. On 5 January, a group of protestors gathered in front of the television station in Levent/Istanbul to express their disapproval.

In yesterday's (12 January) weekly meeting of RTÜK, the council also had the expert report about the series on the agenda and issued a warning to Show TV because the media body allegedly "broadcasted a program that was contrary to the values of the national and moral values of the society".

RTÜK concluded that Article 4 on "broadcasting standarts" was violated as stipulated in Law No. 3984 on the Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises and Their Broadcasts.

In accordance with Article 33 of that law (Warning, Fine, Suspension and Revocation), RTÜK announced that "the broadcast of the program subject to the warning shall be suspended for one to twelve times" if the warning should be ignored.

RTÜK President Davut Dursun announced that the council received 74,911 complaints about the series in the time between the broadcast of the first advertisement on 11 December 2010 and its first episode on 6 January 2011. He said that the number of complaints made up 93 percent of all complaints lodged at that period of time.

In a speech delivered at the General Assembly of the Turkish Parliament, Deputy PM Arınç argued, "I am also personally concerned and worried". He continued, ""Sultan Suleyman who brought so many laws is known for his greatness in the world and during the Ottoman era. He is known as 'Suleyman the Magnificent'. It was aimed to show him in his harem, fond of drinking and even in certain scenes that I cannot express in words... The fragments suggest that one could think that way. It makes me sad that the series was produced with such a huge budget and that its broadcasting was started a few days ago". (EÖ/VK)