TGC statement on RTÜK! 'It must stop perpetuating lawlessness by punishing TV channels that are not close to the government'

The Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) Board of Directors has criticized the fines imposed by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) on Fox TV, Halk TV, Sözcü TV, Tele 1, and KRT, calling on RTÜK to stop acting as a censorship tool for the government.

In the statement, it was stated that RTÜK prevents freedom of the press and expression by regularly punishing television channels that are not close to the government. The Board of Directors emphasized that RTÜK should not view journalism as a crime and must respect freedom of the press, calling on RTÜK to act impartially.

The Board of Directors' statement is as follows:

“As 2023 comes to an end, RTÜK is attempting to prevent the public from accessing the truth by acting as the government's censorship apparatus through the heavy fines it has imposed on Fox TV, Halk TV, Sözcü TV, Tele 1, and KRT. It is serving the government's pre-election project of creating a monolithic way of thinking, a monolithic society, and monolithic news and journalists. According to the statement published on the social media account of CHP member İlhan Taşcı, the Radio and Television Supreme Council has rained down fines on media organizations that criticize the government. The justifications for the fines given to news reports, programs, and series are a summary of the dark period we are currently in regarding freedom of the press and expression. RTÜK's decisions are contrary to the requirements of a democratic social order and the principles of proportionality. According to İlhan Taşçı’s statements;

A 3 percent fine and a 2-time program suspension were imposed on the series 'Kızıl Goncalar', which is targeted by religious sects and broadcast on Fox TV. RTÜK imposed a 3 percent fine on Fox TV News Editor-in-Chief Doğan Şentürk for his criticism in the 'Orta Sayfa' program regarding the killing of courier Yunus Emre Göçer by the Somali President's son, and the subsequent events involving former Ankaragücü President Faruk Koca, who punched referee Halil Umut Meler, alleging a violation of the principle of impartiality.

Two separate 3 percent fines were decided for Halk TV; one for the 'Halk Meydanı' program, where İrfan Değirmenci was accused of praising LGBTI individuals and thus violating national and moral values, and another for the 'Nasıl Olacak' program, on the grounds that a terrorist act was presented in a way that would produce results serving the goals of terrorism, including its perpetrators and victims.

It was decided that a 3 percent administrative fine be paid by Sözcü TV after host Ebru Baki, in the 'Para Politika' program, relayed remarks about TÜİK employees receiving bonuses and promotions in exchange for underreporting unemployment, citing a violation of impartiality.

Tele 1 was given a 3 percent administrative fine for belittling individuals, a 3 percent fine for a program where money laundering methods were discussed, and a 3 percent fine for praising a criminal in a program where Yılmaz Güney was discussed. In Tele 1's '5. Boyut' program, the remarks made by Merdan Yanardağ and Atilla Dorsay about Yılmaz Güney were defined as praising a criminal. The remarks of Namık Koçak, who hosts the 'Forum Hafta Sonu' program, were accused of belittling individuals. It was also decided to impose a fine due to the expressions used regarding drug trafficking and money laundering fraud discussed in the 'Gündem Özel' program on the same channel."

In KRT, it was ruled that a 3 percent administrative fine be paid due to allegations of belittling, after Zafer Arapkirli criticized Labor Minister Vedat Işıkhan for his remarks that 'there is no extreme poverty' and Health Minister Fahrettin Koca for his hand gesture regarding doctors who go abroad, claiming they 'go for money'.

RTÜK must stop perpetuating lawlessness and preventing freedom of the press and expression by regularly punishing TV channels that are not close to the government.

RTÜK's duty should not be to prevent citizens' right to receive news, access the truth, and be informed. Journalism is not a crime. RTÜK must stop distributing punishments on behalf of the government. We continue to call on RTÜK to act impartially in its decisions and to be respectful of the Constitution and freedom of the press and expression.”

News Source: 12punto