{"id":11237,"date":"2026-02-13T00:26:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T00:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/11237\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T00:26:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T00:26:00","slug":"turkeys-media-watchdog-fines-2-tv-stations-over-vulgar-remarks-and-drama-series-content","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/11237\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkey\u2019s media watchdog fines 2 TV stations over \u2018vulgar\u2019 remarks and drama series content"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Turkey\u2019s broadcasting watchdog has fined two national television stations over separate broadcasts, citing vulgar language in a live program and content deemed contrary to \u201cnational and moral values,\u201d Turkish Minute<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RT\u00dcK) said the pro-opposition Halk TV was fined 2 percent of its monthly revenue over comments made by veteran journalist U\u011fur D\u00fcndar during a live broadcast of \u201cPara Siyaset\u201d (Money Politics), a program discussing the recent\u00a0resignation<\/a>\u00a0of Mesut \u00d6zarslan, a district mayor in Ankara, from the main opposition Republican People\u2019s Party (CHP).<\/p>\n

According to RT\u00dcK, D\u00fcndar quoted a past courtroom defense by the late poet Can Y\u00fccel that included an explicit reference to the buttocks.<\/p>\n

The council ruled that the language used during the broadcast was vulgar.<\/p>\n

Under Turkish law, RT\u00dcK fines are calculated as a percentage of a broadcaster\u2019s gross monthly revenue in Turkey, meaning penalties increase with the size of the company.<\/p>\n

In a separate decision, NOW TV was fined 3 percent of its monthly revenue over three episodes of its drama series \u201cK\u0131skanmak\u201d (Jealousy).<\/p>\n

RT\u00dcK said the series \u201cintensively\u201d portrayed extramarital relationships and infidelity in a manner that violated national and moral values, public morality and the institution of the family.<\/p>\n

RT\u00dcK board member Tuncay Keser, who represents the CHP on the council, criticized the sanctions.<\/p>\n

Writing on X, he said impartiality was a fundamental criterion not only for broadcasters but also for RT\u00dcK itself. Although similar content was aired by numerous outlets, he said, \u201cThe constant punishment of the same stations casts a shadow over impartiality.\u201d<\/p>\n

RT\u00dcK\u2019ten Halk TV\u2019ye \u201cCan Y\u00fccel\u201dli ceza, NOW TV\u2019ye \u201cmilli manevi\u201d de\u011fer cezas\u0131<\/p>\n

Halk TV\u2019ye; Ke\u00e7i\u00f6ren Belediye Ba\u015fkan\u0131n\u0131n CHP\u2019den istifas\u0131n\u0131n tart\u0131\u015f\u0131ld\u0131\u011f\u0131 \u201cPara Siyaset\u201d program\u0131nda, Gazeteci U\u011fur D\u00fcndar\u2019\u0131n, \u015eair Can Y\u00fccel\u2019in insan bedeninin bir b\u00f6lgesini yaz\u0131lar\u0131nda a\u00e7\u0131k\u00e7a\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tuncay Keser (@tuncayksr) February 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The regulator has long faced criticism from opposition politicians, journalists and media rights groups who argue that broadly worded morality and public values provisions are used to target content that conflicts with the government\u2019s conservative and political priorities, while comparable broadcasts by pro-government stations often go unpunished.<\/p>\n

RT\u00dcK\u2019s board members are appointed in proportion to parties\u2019 representation in parliament, meaning the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) currently holds the majority on the council.<\/p>\n

Turkey, which has been suffering from a poor record of freedom of the press for years,\u00a0ranks\u00a0<\/a>159th\u00a0among 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2025 World Press Freedom Index.<\/p>\n