"TRT Violates Impartiality Principle Again With Ramadan Programs”

ABF president Ali Balkiz called on TRT to treat equally all faiths, cultures and religions, and to broadcast programs taking into account the feelings of the unbelieving and ones who don’t fast.

Erol Önderoğlu

"TRT Violates Impartiality Principle Again With Ramadan Programs”

President Ali Balkiz of the Federation of Alevi-Bektashi (ABF) stated that the state radio and television TRT, which is expected to treat all citizens equally, has a problem with not only the Alevis, but with all democratic and secular citizens.

TRT, which is "supposed to be the institution of a so to say secular state, has become the voice of the Presidency of Religious Affairs and religious orders, said Balkiz.

"There is a reference to religious feelings and spiritual life in totally irrelevant programs and even in cartoons," he said. "People choose their faiths and decide on how to practice their faiths. What is the use of reminding these to the audience every three minutes?"

"This should not be the approach of an institution, which is supposed to respect secularity and be impartial," Balkiz added.

"Religiously inappropriate"

Balkiz said that in the previous years, during the fasting month of the Alevis, they asked TRT: "It is the fasting month of the 20 million Alevis of this country. Will you take this into account?" He said they never received any replies.

Balkiz added that, within the framework of the government 's "Alevi opening," a few programs were broadcast as a "conciliation" and there were live programs from the Alevi houses of worship (Cemevi). "Then again, we don't really prefer that," said Balkiz. "Believing is a very special and personal choice. It is not religiously appropriate to turn it into a show, a propaganda, and to broadcast ways in which people should practice their faiths."

"All faiths, cultures, religions should be treated equally "

Balkiz stated that TRT should be impartial and take into account the emotions of the unbelieving and those, who do not fast. It should treat all faiths, cultures, religions equally, he added.

Following are some of the special Ramadan programs on TRT1:

09.00: Fasting season in Anatolia

10.35: Words of Wisdom

11.55: Ramadan is Beautiful

12.30: Ramadan Traveller

12.55: Sahur Fruitfulness

14.55 Sahur Fruitfulness

03.00: Sahur Fruitfulness

05.00: Hasbihal

00.40: Fasting season in Anatolia

22.00: Ramadan night with Metin Senturk

18.00: The sultan of Eleven Months

20.55: Sufi music videos

17.25: Ramadan Traveller (EO)

Origin

BIA News Center

Erol Önderoğlu

[email protected]

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A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without...

A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), where he began as a reporter in 1996. Since 1999, he has worked at bianet, a project of the IPS Communication Foundation, as the coordinator of the Legal Support Desk, editor for freedom of expression, and editor-in-chief. He has authored more than 4,800 signed news articles and opinion pieces. He has also written for Bizim Gazete and the journal Güncel Hukuk. He currently prepares the Media Monitoring Reports at bianet.