Turkish media watchdog RTÜK removes ‘obscene’ content from Netflix, MUBI

Duvar English

Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) on July 31 announced that it fined streaming platforms Netflix, MUBI, and BluTV.

During its weekly regular meeting, the council decided to remove "Sausage Party: Foodtopia," an animated production that RTÜK chair Ebubekir Şahin labeled as "depravity," from the catalog on Netflix, following its removal from Prime Video.

Şahin targeted the production in a social media post dated July 24.

"A perverted hegemony with a clear source and purpose is targeting our beliefs and cultural values, is targeting our youth, the future of our country, through media. The animation-like production titled “Sausage Party: Foodtopia”, which is included in the Turkey catalog of the international broadcaster “Prime Video”, is drawing the reaction of our people with its perverted content," said the council chair, adding that the item would be discussed in RTÜK's upcoming meeting.

The mini-series features eight episodes that follow animated food characters' adventures. 

The French-Belgian co-production "Climax" by cult director Gaspar Noé available on BluTV and MUBI, was also discussed in the report. RTÜK's statement claimed that the film openly depicted violence and sexuality in many scenes, including incestuous and homosexual content, and prominently featured smoking, alcohol, drugs, LSD, vulgar language, and obscenity in every scene.

During the meeting, the council determined that the film violated "principles of public morality and the protection of family structure." Consequently, both streaming platforms were subjected to the highest level of administrative fines and the removal of the film from their catalogs.

The media watchdog was recently at the center of controversy after it revoked the broadcasting license of the oppositional radio channel Açık Radyo for “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” with remarks made about the Armenian Genocide during a commemorative program. 

The council argued that the move came after the station did not comply with the initial five-day broadcast suspension it imposed. Açık Radyo was also fined 189,282 Turkish liras (5,700 dollars) for the broadcast 

A local court issued a stay of execution upon Açık Radyo’s application, arguing the move “may cause irreparable damage if implemented.”

While it includes members from oppositional parties, RTÜK’s policymaking board is dominated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its allies. The watchdog frequently fines broadcasters that are critical of the government and broadcasts that it finds “immoral,” and imposes censorship over content that it deems “unsuitable” for the “Turkish family structure.”