RTÜK penalized FOX TV, Halk TV, TELE1 and Flash Haber. FOX TV and Halk TV have been penalized by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) due to comments made during their elections coverage.
FOX TV was fined for Çigdem Toker’s questioning of the country’s adherence to the rule of law and the democratic process.
Halk TV incurred a penalty because of a statement made by Ümit Özdag, the leader of the Zafer Partisi (Victory Party).
“I have politically no respect for the election outcome, and I won’t have any. Because a wrong choice was made,” the anti-refugee politician said on “Yeni Bir Sabah” (A New Morning).
Furthermore, TELE 1 faced fines from RTÜK due to accusations made by Merdan Yanardag concerning ballot papers, raising doubts about the credibility of the election outcomes.
Flash Haber was penalized for remarks by Cemal Enginyurt about Sinan Ogan, who obtained 5.17% in the first round of the presidential elections and decided to back President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the runoff.
Condemnations
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), both condemned the imposition of fines on these outlets.
Ilhan Tasçi, CHP’s RTÜK member, criticized the media authority for obstructing press freedom. “After the election, RTÜK quickly embarked on every obstruction against press freedom and the public’s right to information,” the council member said.
Erol Önderoglu, Turkey’s RSF representative, called the fines opportunistic and urged an end to polarizing language in politics and media
Source: English Bianet