Media authority imposes no sanctions for 'terrorism' accusations against HDP

 Click to read the article in Turkish

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has rejected 16 separate complaints filed by the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) regarding remarks against it on TV programs.

All the remarks against the party, including "terrorism" accusations, were free expression, the council concluded by a majority vote.

The RTÜK, members of which are picked by political parties in proportion to the number of their seats in the parliament, is often accused of being biased against media outlets critical of the government.

In the last year, the amount of monetary fines imposed on TV outlets critical of the government was 25 times higher fines on pro-government ones, according to İlhan Taşçı, an RTÜK member picked by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). 

Also, 36 of the 39 penalties imposed by the RTÜK between the start of 2019 and mid-2020 targeted critical outlets, according to a previous statement by Taşçı.

CLICK - HRW: RTÜK imposing punitive sanctions on critical media outlets

Among the remarks that were considered "free expression" were those accusing the HDP of being linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

A news presenter at the pro-government A Haber channel called the party "a community of terror lovers."

During another program on A Haber, "a PKK shelter in the HDP provincial building" was mentioned.

MP Mustafa Elitaş of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had said on A Haber that "HDP deputies get orders from the terrorist ringleader in Qandil [mountains] and are trying to enforce them at the parliament."

On Habertürk TV, journalist Nedim Şene alleged that the HDP "was in pursuit to create chaos in the country" and "calling on the people for an insurgency." (HA/VK)