Criminal complaint filed against TRT, AA, and RTÜK for not broadcasting Maltepe rally

Former YARSAV President Ömer Faruk Eminağaoğlu has filed a criminal complaint against the executives of TRT and Anadolu Agency (AA) for failing to broadcast the rally held by the CHP in Istanbul's Maltepe district on March 29, which was attended by millions, and against RTÜK for failing to fulfill its oversight duties. Eminağaoğlu argued that the public's right to information was clearly violated and asserted that the institutions in question committed the crime of "misconduct in office."

In his criminal complaint to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Eminağaoğlu stated, "Over 2 million 200 thousand people attended the open-air meeting organized by the CHP in Istanbul's Maltepe district on March 29, 2025. Even if some media outlets inaccurately portrayed this number as much lower, the event, both in terms of its subject and content, was an event that carried news value and received extensive coverage even in the world press. The public's constitutional right to learn the truth from media outlets in Turkey and to do so impartially cannot be obstructed." Eminağaoğlu stated that officials from Anadolu Agency, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), and the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) committed the crime of "misconduct in office."

Eminağaoğlu listed the following in his criminal complaint:

"Anadolu Agency (AA) officials are considered public servants in the application of Law No. 5237, in accordance with Law No. 57. The broadcasting principles of AA include providing impartial, objective, and fair journalism; basing its work on objectivity and accuracy; and not engaging in journalism based on personal attitudes, interests, or affiliations.

The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) is tasked with broadcasting impartially in accordance with Law No. 2954 and Presidential Decree No. 4, and is also responsible for broadcasting the newsworthy activities of political parties.

The duties of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) are regulated by Law No. 6112 on the Establishment and Broadcasting Services of Radio and Television. Accordingly, RTÜK is obligated to ensure freedom of expression and the right to information, to oversee justice, impartiality, accuracy, and truthfulness, to ensure that one-sided broadcasts are not made regarding political parties and democratic groups, and to impose sanctions in case of violations.

While AA and TRT should have covered the news and footage of the open-air meeting as a requirement of the public's right to information, the officials of these institutions committed the crime of misconduct in office by failing to include news and broadcasts on this subject. While RTÜK is tasked with examining and auditing the broadcasts of media outlets within its jurisdiction, it failed to fulfill its duty in this regard and did not impose sanctions on the media outlets that failed to carry the necessary broadcasts."

'FILE A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT'

Speaking to BirGün, Eminağaoğlu said, "I invite everyone to file a criminal complaint against these institutions."

News Source: 12punto