Freedom of expression and human rights organisations issued a joint statement on 13 April, condemning Turkey’s broadcasting regulator, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), for penalising critical news reports ahead of the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections on 14 May 2023.
In the statement signed by 20 organisations, including the Platform for Independent Journalism (P24), the groups called for the immediate cessation of fines against broadcasters, saying that suppression of the media weakens the legitimacy of the election process. The organisations further accused RTÜK of being used as a tool by the ruling alliance of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to silence legitimate criticism and give them an unfair advantage.
Several broadcasters have been penalised in recent months, including FOX TV, Halk TV, and TELE1, with fines imposed over unfounded accusations such as “preventing the free formation of opinions” and “humiliating the municipality.” In contrast, pro-government channels received only a handful of fines. The Ministry of Industry and Technology was also accused of censoring critical reporting, with the licence of Deutsche Welle’s Turkish service not being renewed in March 2023, leading to its closure.
The signatories to the statement include the International Press Institute, ARTICLE 19, the Committee to Protect Journalists, PEN International and Freedom House, among others.
They called on RTÜK to end its crackdown on independent broadcasters and act in accordance with its duty to guarantee freedom of expression and media pluralism in the country.
