The Turkish Audiovisual High Council (RTUK) on Wednesday sanctioned three television channels which had criticized the government for its management of the consequences of the earthquake which struck the south of the country on February 6.
Channels Halk TV, Tele 1 and Fox TV have been fined and suspended from programs for "
the information and comments they broadcast about the earthquake
", RTUK member Ilhan Tasci announced on Twitter. elected by the opposition.
Halk TV and Télé 1 were sentenced to a fine corresponding to 5% of their turnover for the month of January, as well as the suspension for five days of one of their daily broadcasts.
Another fine corresponding to 3% of January turnover was also imposed on Halk TV and Fox TV.
"Censorship Board"
The three channels are known for their editorial line critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's power, Halk TV being especially close to the main opposition party, the CHP.
Read alsoEarthquake in Turkey: Erdogan under fire from critics three months before the elections
“
Again, the RTUK does not surprise us by sanctioning us.
Those who came to power criticizing the repression are now banning everything and expecting to be obeyed.
(...) Halk TV will continue to inform and Turkey will not remain without news
, ”twitted Cafer Mahiroglu, the boss of Halk TV.
“
Acting like a censorship board, RTUK will fail to hide the truth by sanctioning channels that report the misfortune of people in the quake-affected region.
The RTUK is committing a crime by ignoring the right of the population to be informed
”, reacted for his part the president of the Association of Journalists of Turkey, Nazmi Bilgin, in a press release.
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Lack of reaction from the first days
The Turkish government is strongly criticized by the opposition and independent media for its absence and the lack of reaction during the first days in localities devastated by the earthquake of a magnitude of 7.8.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week acknowledged "
shortcomings
" in the organization of relief, while insisting on the enormity of the earthquake.
"
Their incompetence has cost the lives of tens of thousands of our compatriots
," accused CHP chief Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Turkey, which in October passed a law punishing the dissemination of "
false news
" with sentences of up to three years in prison, ranks 149th out of 180 in the 2022 press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
