RTÜK Member Criticizes Bikini Decision

Turkey’s Higher Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK) issued an “obscenity” penalty to Kral TV for showing Calvin Harris’ “Summer" music video.

Ahmet Yıldırım, an assistant professor and RTÜK member delegated by Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) told bianet that the video was found obscene even though it only showed a group of women dancing in bikinis.

“If we issue a penalty to this video,” Yıldırım said, “we must issue a penalty to all celebrity shows on TV.” 

5 votes against 4

The decision was taken by five votes from Justice and Development Party (AKP), although there was four negative votes such as one vote from Peace and Democracy Party , one vote from Republican People’ Party (CHP) and  two vote from Nationalist Action Party (MHP).

According to the channel’s ad revenue of last month, RTÜK fined to Kral TV for %1 of the revenue.

RTÜK based its decision on Law Concerning Radio and Television Establishments and Broadcasting Services Article 8/2 that introduced the principle of “not broadcasting shows that are inappropriate to children in periods where they can watch them”.

Reminiscent of sex

According to Milliyet, RTÜK ruling included the following: “[The aforementioned video] depicts the woman’s nakedness in a way to arouse sexual appetite in settings like bed, bathtub and bedroom and in sexually provoking clothes and figures.” (EA/GOA/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.