Erdoğan issues circular to 'eliminate TV programs against national values'

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a circular late Friday (January 28) about TV programs "against the basic values of society."

"The steps to eliminate the destructive effects of television programs that contain elements contrary to basic values of society and that especially appear as adaptations of foreign programs will be taken urgently," says the circular.

Children and the youth will be protected from "productions targeting their minds with messages given by using certain symbols," the circular says, apparently in reference to The Masked Singer (Maske Kimsin Sen?)

Pro-government media outlets and social media accounts have accused the program of "paganism and satanism propaganda."

Fox TV, which broadcasts the program, defended itself, saying that the program is aired in many countries across the world.

After debates over the program, İbrahim Uslu, the deputy chair of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), said they would probe the program in terms of "protecting children." (TP/VK)