RTÜK asks Disney+ for explanation about the Atatürk series

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The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) of Turkey decided to initiate an investigation and to ask Disney+ for an explanation amid claims that the streaming platform has cancelled its series "Atatürk." 

 RTÜK Chairperson Ebubekir Şahin announced the decision. 

Noting that Atatürk is a very important national figure, a national value in Turkey, he informed that the claims that the series was cancelled "upon the intervention of the Armenian lobby" was being carefully investigated. 

Politicians slam Disney+

Many politicians in Turkey made statements concerning the claims that the Atatürk series that Disney+ has shot will not be broadcast. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) Vice President and Speaker Ömer Çelik, the Good (İYİ) Party Speaker Kürşat Zorlu, the Homeland (Memleket) Party President Muharrem İnce, Democrat Party Vice President İlay Aksoy slammed Disney+ over the claims. 

"It is a shame that a US based series/movie platform has surrenderedto the Armenian lobby and cancelled the "Atatürk" series. This attitude of the platform is an insult to the values of the Republic of Turkey and to our nation," said Ömer Çelik. 

He added that the intention of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) was to prevent the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. 

Kürşad Zorlu warned the platform and called on those who are subscribed to Disney+ to end their subscriptions while İlay Aksoy asserted that Disney+ was insulting the Turkish nation and said that the necessary response should be given. 

Disney+ Turkey's announcement

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) had called on Disney+ last month to cancel the Atatürk series, the trailer of which had already been released. 

Disney+ has lifted the contents on the platform libraries in countries such as France and Germany, and also the original content in Turkey based on a global downsizing decision. 

There were claims at that time that the pressure by ANCA was the reason behind. Some claimed that the series would not be broadcast. However Disney+ Turkey released the trailer of the series on its social media and announced that the series was going to be broadcast starting on October 29, as planned. 

However, the series was not going to be broadcast on Disney+, but on FOX, it was revealed yesterday (August 1). In fact, Disney+ was expected to transfer some of its approved projects and its deals with the actors to FOX, but the development which contradicted with the former announcement by Disney+ Turkey drew reactions. 

People started campaigns for cancellation of Disney+ subscriptions, and the presentation of this development by some social media account holders supporting the Armenian diaspora as their success caused created some tension. 

About the series

The Atatürk series is going to present a period from the youth of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Mehmet Ada Öztekin is the director of the series and Aras Bulut İynemli is acting Atatürk. 

The trailer of the series, the  first season of which is planned to be made up of 6 episodes, was released on Ocbober 28, 2022.

(HA/PE)