Media authority fines broadcasters over comments on government, army

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After examining reports from its monitoring experts, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) imposed administrative fines today (November 6) on Halk TV, Tele 1, Kanal D, Fox TV, Beyaz TV and Show TV.

Halk TV and Tele 1, two broadcasters that are known for their critical stance towards government, were fined over comments about the government and the army.

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During an episode of the "Gün Başlıyor" (The day is beginning) program on Tele 1, the presenter had said that "The officers of the [police] organization headed by [President] Erdoğan and Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu can comfortably enter into cemevis [Alevi place of worship] and pee."

The RTÜK found that those remarks were not based on any evidence, information or documents and brought the police organization under suspicion.

Deciding that the presenter violated the principle that "a broadcast cannot violate the principle of respecting human dignity and privacy and cannot contain derogatory, insulting or defamatory expressions beyond the limits of criticism," the council imposed an administrative fine on the broadcaster.

It fined Halk TV over the remarks of a guest during the program "Gündem Özel."

The guest, author Veysi Dündar, had said that "The army, the police are almost purged now. We don't have a very strong state. Currently, we neither have an army nor a police force that can wage a land war. The state doesn't have an army to react in the field apart from UAVs and UCAVs."

The council ruled that his remarks could harm the security institutions' morale and fined the channel.

Kanal D was fined over the "Sadakatsiz" (Unfaithful" series, which "normalized extramarital relationships" and "created role models that can affect children and young people negatively."

The council fined Show TV over the "Ramo" series for damaging the reputation of the teaching profession, Beyaz TV over the "Beyaz Futbol" program for foul language and TV8 over the "MasterChef" competitive cooking show for harsh attitude against a participant. (HA/VK)