Netflix Turkey described the 'Heartstopper' series about LGBTI+ youth as ‘harmful’

Photo: Screenshot from the series Heartstopper

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Netflix Turkey described the "Heartstopper" series, adapted from Alice Oseman's comic book, as "harmful" (muzır in Turkish, which also roughly translates as obscene, explicit).

The series was presented to the audience in the +13 category on Netflix on April 22, 2022. Later it was classified as +18 due to an investigation launched into the comic book in 2021.

"This series is adapted from Alice Oseman's comic book Heartstopper (Kalp Çarpıntısı) which is found harmful for the ones aged younger than 18 by the Ministry's Board on Protecting Children from Harmful Publications," written in the description of the series on Netflix.

The comic book was discontinued

Writer Alice Oseman's "Heartstopper" comic was published in Turkish by Yabancı Publications in 2021.

Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation after the book was published, and the sale of the book in major bookstores was stopped.

In a unanimous decision, the Ministry of Family and Social Services declared "Heartstopper" comic book series with homosexual protagonists as a "harmful publication".

The two-volume series were examined by the Board and it was concluded that "some writing in the books might have harmful effects on the spirituality of the ones aged younger than 18."

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Heterosexual series on the same subject not deemed "harmful"

The other dramas on Netflix Turkey about children, family, and love with heterosexual heroes, are under the category of +13 and are described as "suitable for family and children".

However "Heartbreaking" series which is about the love of LGBTI+ youth and their relations in a positive environment, and does not contain sexuality or violent content is classified as +18. (AK/SD/TB)