Rain of fines from RTÜK on opposition channels!

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has once again rained fines on Halk TV, Now TV, Sözcü TV, and TELE 1.

RTÜK member İlhan Taşcı announced the fines imposed by the council on opposition television channels and their justifications in a post on his X account.

Halk TV was issued a 3 percent administrative fine for broadcasting a phone call recording between journalist Barış Pehlivan and an expert witness appointed to files concerning Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The decision, taken by majority vote, was based on the provision of the law regarding the "violation of the principle of respect for the privacy of private life."

The majority of the council evaluated that the expert witness was targeted in the program titled "Neden Sonuç" (Cause and Effect) with the words of Seda Selek: "Surname B. An interesting name. It is unknown how friendly he is or who he is close to... Or how friendly he is. But it is clear who he is close to."

HOTEL FIRE FINE

A 3 percent administrative fine was decided by majority vote for Now TV, based on the provision that "no one can be declared guilty until their guilt is finalized by a court decision," due to evaluations made by participants in the "Orta Sayfa" (Middle Page) program regarding the hotel fire in Kartalkaya, where 78 citizens lost their lives, stating that the responsibility lay with the Ministry of Tourism and that politics should not interfere with this investigation.

Sözcü TV and Tele 1 channels were also sentenced by majority vote to a 3 percent fine under the article "no one can be declared guilty until their guilt is finalized by a court decision" due to criticisms regarding the expert report on the forest fire in Kartalkaya being described as "pirated" by the Minister of Justice.

FINE FOR CRITICISM OF RTÜK PRESIDENT

Sözcü TV was issued a 3 percent administrative fine by majority vote for violating "human dignity and the privacy of private life" due to remarks made by independent Istanbul MP Cemal Enginyurt and politician Cem Toker regarding RTÜK President Ebubekir Şahin.

The fine was based on Enginyurt's words: "RTÜK serves its master. It has a duty and mission to secure the future of the government, to eliminate criticisms against it, and to silence those who speak. It is fulfilling this properly. I hope our brother Ebubekir, a new cabinet is said to be announced in January. He might find a proper place for himself there"; and Cem Toker's words: "In 2020, the head of RTÜK, Ebubekir Şahin, said the following sentence: 'We consider the instructions and suggestions of our President as orders.' The person he calls our President is also the chairman of the AKP, meaning a man who says he considers the suggestions and instructions of a party chairman as orders is hanging over the media in all of Turkey like the sword of Damocles."

Sözcü TV was also fined 3 percent by majority vote due to remarks made by Cemal Enginyurt following a court's acquittal of a defendant in a case he filed on charges of insult: "How did you acquit the scoundrel who insulted me, cursed at my mother and my wife, you shameless man? There is no such tyranny. Do not be the judge or prosecutor of the AKP, be a man of God."

In the Sözcü TV main news bulletin, a 3 percent fine was imposed for violating the clause that "broadcasts cannot contain humiliating, degrading, or slanderous expressions within the limits of criticism" due to evaluations regarding the arrest of Ümit Özdağ: "Just think, they can take a party chairman. They can say, 'We took him, let's attribute another crime to him.' Friends, we are all insecure. None of us have any security. If you are close to the government, nothing happens to you. If you speak against the government, whether you are a journalist or a politician, you can be taken. Anything can happen to you."

FERDİ TAYFUR FINE FOR TELE1

A 3 percent fine was decided by majority vote for the TELE 1 channel due to criticisms regarding Arabesque music following the passing of artist Ferdi Tayfur.

Now TV was issued a 3 percent administrative fine for changing the court's response and correction text regarding a report on the Nun Education and Culture Foundation and reading it faster than the usual speed.

News Source: 12punto