Turkish court suspends media watchdog’s decision of broadcast ban on TELE1

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A Turkish court has ordered a stay of execution of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK)’s decision to ban opposition TV channel TELE1 from broadcasting for seven days over journalist Merdan Yanardağ’s remarks.

In early July, RTÜK imposed the broadcasting ban on TELE1, citing remarks by the TV channel’s editor-in-chief Yanardağ on the “4 Questions 4 Answers” program aired on June 20. The state-run media watchdog argued that Yanardağ’s remarks on jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan “incited the public to hatred and enmity.” The RTÜK also imposed a 5% revenue fine against the TV channel.

Afterwards, TELE1 filed a lawsuit and demanded the suspension of RTÜK’s decision, to which the Ankara 4th Administrative Court agreed. The court gave a 30-day period to RTÜK for its submission of a defense.

If the court had approved of RTÜK’s decision, TELE1 would have been forced to stop its broadcasts from July 17 midnight to July 24.  

During a live broadcast on TELE1 on Jun 20, Yanardağ said the contact ban and isolation imposed upon Öcalan should be lifted. “Abdullah Öcalan is over 70 years old, it has been a long time since he has been in jail, 25 years without interruption. He is the longest-serving political prisoner in Turkey. If normal execution laws apply, he should actually be released, in a house arrest etc. The isolation imposed upon Abdullah Öcalan has no place in law. It has to be lifted,” he said.

A week later on June 27, a court formally arrested Yanardağ after he was targeted by pro-government and nationalist opposition figures. The journalist stands imprisoned.

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