Five major TV outlets fined by RTÜK

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RTÜK charged Halk TV with a 5-percent administrative fine for displaying Selahattin Demirtaş's book "Dad" (meaning justice in Kurdish) in Serhan Asker's program. Additionally, the program received a 5 times broadcast ban for "praising a criminal."

Demirtaş previously co-chaired the People's Democratic Party (HDP) but has been behind bars since 2016, despite the European Court of Human Rights ruling that his detention is unlawful.

The former politician, who released two short story books and two novels, in a 2019 interview, stated that he started writing books to 'resist and overcome prison.'

Halk TV's Kayda Geçsin (for the record) received a 3-percent administrative penalty based on the grounds of 'failing to be objective' after Turhan Çömez in the program stated that in the southern city of İskenderun, which was heavily struck by the February 6 earthquakes, patients being on ventilators died due to failing generators.

RTÜK fined TELE1 with a 3-percent administrative penalty for statements by Merdan Yanardağ and Prof. Dr. Emre Kongar in the program 18 Dakika (18 Minutes), called the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) fascist and criticized the ban of women's marches.

Criticism of the Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality and constructions in a streambed in FOX TV's Orta Sayfa (Middle Page) was deemed humiliating by RTÜK, with the channel receiving a similar 3-percent administrative fine.

Show TV's series Kızılcık Şerbeti (cranberry juice) received a 5 times broadcast suspension and a 5-percent administrative fine for "violent scenes against women."

153rd on the 2022 press freedom index

Ahead of the May 14 elections, Turkey finds itself in 153rd place out of 180 on Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 's 20th annual press freedom index. The watchdog argued that authoritarianism is gaining ground, media pluralism is challenged, and all possible means are used to undermine critics.

RSF recently denounced the censorship targeting online reporting criticizing public authorities' practices after last month's massive earthquakes. Following the disaster, several journalists were briefly detained in the quake-hit region. At the same time, the court blocked access to some online news reports and articles about the disaster. (HA/WM/VK)