Court reinstates broadcast suspension on TELE1 TV over 'PKK' remarks

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The Ankara 4th Administrative Court has lifted the stay of execution on a broadcast suspension penalty on TELE1 TV after an objection from the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK).

As per the decision communicated to TELE1 yesterday, its broadcast will be suspended from August 6 to 12.

The penalty was imposed due to the channel's chief editor Merdan Yanardağ's criticism of the authorities over prison conditions of the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan. Yanardağ has been remanded in custody since late June on charges of "making terrorist propaganda" and "praising crime and criminals" due to his statements.

Yanardağ's first hearing is scheduled for October 4, and he faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years and 6 months.

Both the criminal investigation and RTÜK's inquiry were initiated after selectively edited parts of Yanardağ's remarks circulated on social media.

After its examination, RTÜK on June 6 penalized TELE1 with a 7-day broadcasting suspension, 5-episode program suspension, and an administrative fine equivalent to 5% of the previous month's advertising revenue. Following this, TELE1 filed a lawsuit against RTÜK's decision at the Ankara 4th Administrative Court.

The court, upon receiving the application, suspended the execution of the broadcast suspension penalty and granted RTÜK a 30-day period for appeal. (HA/VK)