Turkey’s judiciary stops attempt by government body to blackout TELE1 television channel
TELE1 took “3-day screen blackout penalty” illegally imposed by RTÜK (referred to as the government’s censorship body), to judiciary. The court decided to stop the execution of RTÜK’s blackout sentence to be practiced on Tele1.
The Supreme Council of Radio and Television (RTÜK), referred to as the government’s censorship tool, imposed a three-day screen blackout penalty on TELE1 due to a religious criticism made by deputy Serra KADIGIL on said channel. The punishment of TELE1 due to the words of a deputy who has immunity, on a live broadcast caused great reaction. The reaction of politicians, journalists and citizens to the illegal punishment of the RTUK grew like an avalanche.
DECISION TO STOP THE EXECUTION WAS MADE UNANIMOUSLY
TELE1 appealed to the judiciary to cancel the unfair and unlawful sentence of the RTUK and to stop its execution. Ankara 2. The Administrative Court unanimously decided to stop the execution.
ABOUT TELE 1 TELEVISION CHANNEL
TELE1 television channel is known as one of the most reputable news broadcasting establishments of Turkey. The channel was founded by MERDAN YANARDAG, a prominent journalist and author as well, known for his leftist tendency.
The channel, due to its dissident policy has had to cope with many penalties imposed by RTÜK, The Supreme Council of Radio and Television. The government is without any doubt extremely disturbed by the straight policies followed by the channel, informing the public about wrong policies and practices of the administration and criticizing them.
The channel enjoys great support from the public as it is committed to the truth and facts only, rather than popularity – as often expressed by MERDAN YANARDAG, editor-in-chief.
One of the most followed programs on the channel is “18 Minutes” done by Mr. YANARDAG and Professor EMRE KONGAR, certainly one of the most valuable intellectual assets of Turkey with an extraordinary knowledge in many areas and experience as well. In this program, both journalists bring the most current/recent issues on Turkey’s agenda (as well as the world’s) to the attention of the audience and discuss them from different points of view. It is considered to be a very informative and even educational program (as referred to by many).
