RTÜK fines seven TV channels in December

Click to read the article in Turkish

In its last ordinary meeting of the year, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) imposed administrative fines on six Tv channels, FOX TV, Habertürk, Akit TV, Beyaz TV, Halk TV, Beyaz TV and NR1 Türk.

"Covid traitors"

FOX TV was fined due to Prof. Bingür Sönmez, a medical doctor, calling those who reject Covid-19 vaccination "traitors."

"Those who say, 'I'm not receiving the vaccine' are traitors. They won't even be able to enter government agencies, they won't be able to go to school," he said during a program. "We will make rules about vaccination just as the rules of curfews. They won't be able to use public transport."

The RTÜK concluded that his remarks were far beyond the limits of criticism and imposed a monetary fine on the broadcaster.

Syrian refugees

Habertürk was fined over a program host's remarks against Syrian refugees.

"They are the owners of Turkey, we are like guests. They will kick us out [of the country] soon, there is a situation like this. Because they are extremely free, they don't have any obligations about any issue," Fatih Altaylı said during the "Teke Tek" program. "Frankly speaking, I can say that we lost Turkey to Syria without a war. They seem to take Turkey prisoner with four million soldiers."

Using such analogies like "soldiers" and "taking prisoner" about refugees could create antipathy and negative opinions about them, the council concluded and fined the broadcaster.

"Houses of prostitution"

Akit TV, a pro-government broadcaster, was fined because Prof. Ebubekir Sofuğlu, an academic, likened bachelor pads to "houses of prostitution."

The council ruled that the broadcaster should pay a fine amount to one percent of its monthly advertising revenue.

"Insulting the president"

Halk TV, a broadcaster critical of the government, was fined for "attempted to humiliate the president and damage his reputation."

During a program, Serhat Albayrak, the brother of the president's son-in-law and the deputy head of the pro-government Turkuvaz Media Group, was described as "the head of an organization that carries out illegal activities with perception management operations."

The fine was imposed because a guest at the program said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the media group.

NR1 Türk TV was fined because of not applying a bleep censor video clip when necessary and Beyaz TV was fined over remarks against an executive of BEIN Sports, which broadcasts the country's top football league matches. (HA/VK)