Turkish media regulator RTÜK has imposed an administrative fine and a 10-day broadcasting suspension on Sözcü TV over a statement “Turkey is not a Muslim country” made by Murat Kubilay, a columnist in national media outlets in Turkey, on the ‘Money Politics’ program. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and its Turkish affiliates condemn this disproportionate decision which amounts to censorship.

According to RTÜK’s decision, Sözcü TV is off the air for 10 days from 9 July. Journalists representing several organizations, including EFJ Turkish affiliates (TGS, DİSK Basın-İş, GCD…) visited the channel’s office in Ankara to express their support.

“RTÜK has become a threat to freedom of expression, press freedom, media pluralism, and, in short, rights and freedoms in Turkey,” said Banu Tuna, Turkish member of the EFJ Steering Committee. “Institutions that determine professional ethics and rules and have the authority to impose penalties must be established and managed by professional organizations, not political parties”.

On 3 June, the General Meeting of the EFJ voted a resolution condemning RTÜK’s decision to blackout Sözcü TV for 10 days with a record fine. “While RTÜK imposes exorbitant fines on media outlets publicly known as “oppositional,” it adopts a rather ‘lenient’ stance toward complaints regarding media outlets perceived as “pro-government” and aligned with the ruling party. Although the selection of its members by the Parliament appears to be a “democratic method” in principle, the majority of members are selected from the quotas of the ruling party (AKP) and its ally (MHP), giving them decisive influence over decisions,” says the resolution.