NTV Accused of Airing Call For a Military Coup

The Association for Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People (MAZLUMDER) files a complaint against NTV for allegedly broadcasting "a call to military coup" by three persons interviewed for the upcoming local elections.

MAZLUMDER Ankara branch vice-chair Celal Kara, urges Ankara public prosecutor's office as well as the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) to act against Doğuş Holding Executive Committee chair Ferit Şahenk, holding's media group chair Erman Yerdelen, NTV channel executives and the programmers of the Election Bus programme.

Kara claims that Articles 309, 311, 312 and 319 of the Penal Code are violated.       

In the programme, people who get on a public bus in Istanbul are interviewed regarding their views on the elections. On March 18th, Kara says three people "called for a military coup, encouraging the army to act against the law and take down the government." He emphasizes that the programme wasn't aired live and failing to disregard those remarks, NTV collaborated in this act.

One of the interviewed says, "I'm for a military coup. The army must intimidate the government. Military is the only one to protect this country." Another adds, "A coup is required. The best is the military to come to power, even if it means we go back…"(EÖ/AGÜ)