Media authority RTÜK fines Halk TV over broadcast on foundation close to government

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The Radio and Supreme Council has fined Halk TV channel over its broadcasts on the Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA).

Onur Konuralp, a member of the RTÜK from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), has announced that the RTÜK has fined Halk TV because "it humiliated/ despised/ smeared the TÜGVA."

Releasing a statement about the fine, the RTÜK itself has also stated that after the expert reports on the related broadcasts were examined in detail, "it was detected that some public institutions were smeared on 'Açıkça', 'Medya Mahallesi' and 'Sözüm Var' programs."

Referring specifically to the "Perdenin Önü Arkası" program on Halk TV, the RTÜK has argued that "calling the TÜGVA, a legal youth civil society organization, a 'parallel structure' based on no documents or data by finding it similar to the FETÖ is a violation of the law."

The FETÖ, or the "Fethullahist Terrorist Organization", is held accountable for the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. As for the TÜGVA, it was founded in 2014 with the slogan "Future of Youth, Youth of Future." Bilan Erdoğan, the younger son of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is among the founders and a member of the High Advisory Council of the foundation.

CLICK - Alleged leaked documents of foundation close to Erdoğan reveal corruption, 'favoritism'

3-percent administrative fine on Halk TV

İlhan Taşçı, another RTÜK member from the CHP, has also announced that a 3-percent administrative fine has been imposed on Halk TV upon the complaint of the Press Advertisement Institution (BİK).

According to Taşçı, "by a majority of votes, the Halk TV has been fined because it was said that the BİK and RTÜK put pressure on the press." Taşçı has stated that "even though he expressed an opinion against RTÜK Chair Ebubekir Şahin's attendance to the meeting as he is also a member of the BİK General Assembly and, thus, a 'party', this request was rejected."

TELE 1 fined as well

RTÜK member Konuralp has announced that the TELE 1 has been fined as well. According to Konuralp, the broadcaster has been fined over the criticisms of Emre Kongar and Merdan Yanardağ about the remarks of former Parliamentary Speaker İsmail Kahraman, who talked about the first four articles of the Constitution, which cannot be amended.

CLICK - Media Monitoring Database (RTÜK fines)

(KÖ/SD)