‘It is Discriminatory to Suspend the Broadcast of a Series due to Homosexual Relationship’

Click to read the article in Turkish

Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) Supreme Board member Faruk Bildirici has objected to the RTÜK for having imposed broadcast suspension on 9-1-1 series aired on encrypted Fox Life Channel for five times on the ground that "it is against public morality".

Sharing a message on his social media account, Bildirici has announced that he expressed dissenting opinion on the broadcast suspension. "It would not be realistic to say that scenes aired late at night and on an encrypted channel will influence children and young people", Bildirici has said and added that "the mindset of the majority in RTÜK is being imposed".

Referring to the expert report which has cited the homosexual relationship as the object of the violation in question, Bildirici has described the broadcast suspension imposed on such grounds as "discrimination".

"That homosexuality is featured in any television program, in a TV series cannot be an object of violation in itself. It is not possible to accept such an approach to homosexuality in this day and age. Considering homosexuality being featured in a series to be a 'violation' means discrimination", Bildirici has indicated and underlined that "homosexuality is an orientation":

"As a matter of fact, it is now accepted in all scientific approaches in our age that homosexuality is an orientation and a person cannot be homosexual by seeing and coming to know homosexuals. Homosexuality is not a preference, but an orientation stemming from the nature of the individual".

Concluding his remarks, Bildirici has informed the public that "he does not agree with the decision taken by the majority of the Supreme Board and he is against the imposition of a sanction". (TP/SD)