Turkey's media watchdog fines opposition TV for “praising terror via mimics”
Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) has fined opposition broadcaster Halk TV for “praising terror via mimics”, RTUK’s opposition member Ilhan Tasci said on Wednesday.
The council banned Halk TV’s “Medya Mahallesi” programme from broadcasting three episodes and issued a financial penalty, Tasci said on Twitter.
“The fines imposed by RTUK are an important indicator for seeking to drown Turkey into darkness and silence ahead of the elections,” Tasci said.
1-RTÜK, Halk TV'de yayınlanan Medya Mahallesi'ne 3 ayrı ceza verdi. Yayında “terör mimikle övüldüğü” savıyla programın 3 kez durdurulmasına, %3 de para cezasına karar verildi. Aynı programın farklı tarihlerdeki 2 ayrı yayınına da %3 para cezası vererek, RTÜK kendi rekorunu kırdı!
— İlhan Taşcı (@ilhantasci) December 21, 2022
Critics frequently accuse RTUK of contributing to the country’s increasing censorship environment by sanctioning independent media that criticize Erdogan administration.
Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party are facing presidential and parliamentary elections by June next year.
According to Tasci, RTUK also fined TELE1 and FOX TV.
TELE1 was issued a financial penalty for describing Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s conviction as a “blow to the will of the people” and FOX TV for a call for Turkish President Erdogan to be “ashamed” of consumer prices, Tasci said.
