RTUK Punishes Kurdish Love Songs

The Radio and Television Higher Board ordered "ART" television in the province of Diyarbakir off the air for 30 days for playing the Kurdish songs Welate Min (My Country) and Halitbege Cbiri, both in an album called "Dengbej."

"Since we are talking about the rule of law, I will first try to find justice in my own country," said Nezahat Dagtekin, the head of the broadcasting board of "ART Radio and TV."

"If the case does not lead to a positive outcome, I will apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)."

The Radio and Television Higher Bord (RTUK) ordered "ART TV" off the air for 30 days on March 24. If legal proceedings do not result in a positive outcome, the television will stop broadcasting on April 24.

The television channel was punished for violating paragraph (a) of article 4 of the RTUK Law which states no broadcasts may be "against the presence and independence of the Turkish Republic state, the indivisible entirety of the state with its country and people, and the principles and revolutions of Ataturk" by broadcasting the two Kurdish songs on August 16, 2003.

A case was brought to the Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) in October 2003. Expert Cihan Gucluk, who was called to court to prepare a report about the incident, said the songs were love songs.

"The album is legal. What's more, all the translations in the RTUK file are wrong," Dagtekin told Bianet.

"Who benefits from such cases? No one has the right to cast a shadow on Turkey especially in its path to the European Union."

"ART TV," established in 1994 has been punished four times before. "ART Radio" was punished five times.

RTUK had in the past twice ordered the television channel off the air for a week for playing Kurdish songs. (EO/BB/YS/EA/YE)