Turkish court issues stay of execution for revocation of radio channel's license

Duvar English

A Turkish Administrative Court has issued a stay of execution for the revocation of the radio channel Açık Radyo's license.

RTÜK first fined the radio channel 189,282 Turkish liras and suspended its broadcasts for five days due to statements regarding the Armenian Genocide during a program on April 24, 2024.

Then it argued the radio channel failed to comply with the suspension imposed for “inciting the public to hatred and hostility,” and revoked its license last week.

In a social media post on July 10, Açık Radyo said an administrative court issued a stay of execution for RTÜK’s revocation, as the court argued the move “may cause irreparable damage if implemented” since RTÜK’s first fine was the temporary suspension of the program.

The RTÜK’s revocation decision cited remarks by a guest stating, “Armenian, that is, the deportation and massacres that took place in Ottoman lands, the 109th anniversary of massacres referred to as genocide. It was banned again this year, you know, Armenian genocide commemoration,” and the program host’s “failing to make a correction attempt.”

RTÜK, whose policymaking board is dominated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its allies, frequently fines broadcasters that are critical of the government and broadcasts that it finds “immoral.”

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