"The Prime Minister May Suspend a Broadcast"

With the approval of the Draft Bill on the Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises and their Broadcasts by the Turkish parliament, also the provision to suspend a program and issue a monetary fine in case of a supposed violation of the broadcasting principles was passed into law.

The law stipulates, "in cases of acute necessity for reasons of national security or of a strong possibility that public order may be disturbed, the Prime Minister or a minister designated by him may suspend a broadcast".

The draft bill is an amendment of Law no. 3984 on the Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises and their Broadcasts. The penalty system of the former version which foresaw an "apology" and a subsequent "suspension of the program" will be changed entirely.

The current draft bill envisages more severe punishments for broadcasts that are being considered as "separatist", "contrary to the principles and reforms of Atatürk", "inciting hatred and hostility", "praising terrorism", "obscene", "opposing gender equality" or "encouraging violence".

Broadcasts in languages other than Turkish

The draft enables broadcasts in languages and dialects other than Turkish. It is ordered, "Publication services shall be in Turkish. Broadcasts in languages and dialects other than Turkish are possible too. The publications shall be in accordance with the rules of the language chosen. The methods and principles of these publications shall be defined by the Supreme Board".

The foreign capital of a media institution can amount to up to 50 percent of the total capital. A foreign person or corporation can become the associate of two media institutions the most. The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) may suspend a program up to five times in case it opposes the principles of broadcasting.

Lawyer İlkiz: Draft is contrary to the law

bianet had talked to Communications lawyer Fikret İlkiz about the draft bill that passed through parliament now. İlkiz had warned that the Draft Law on Radio and Television Enterprises and Broadcasting Services was contrary to the law and the public's right to information because it preserves the Prime Minister's authority to interrupt broadcasts under "extraordinary circumstances".

Minister applied censorship in three cases

So far, the Turkish public witnessed the authority of the Prime Minister and ministers designated by him to suspend broadcasts in three situations: the bombing of the HSBS Branch in Istanbul on 20 November 2003; the bombing of the Anafartalar building in the Ulus district of Ankara on 22 May 2007 and during the Dağlıca raid of the PKK on 21 October 2007. (EÖ/VK)