Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council revokes license of Açık Radyo after program on Armenian Genocide
ANKARA — After broadcasting a program on the 1915 Armenian Genocide, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) revoked the license of Açık Radyo. This decision followed the station being penalized and its program suspended for five days.
RTÜK member İlhan Taşçı publicly criticized the revocation, stating, “The reason is the station’s non-compliance with a previous 5-day suspension order for inciting hatred and hostility. However, the broadcaster had paid the fine but did not cease broadcasting. This situation should have been interpreted in favor of the broadcaster.”
At the RTÜK meeting last May, an administrative fine was imposed on the radio, and the program was suspended for five days due to a phrase said by a guest on the “April 24” program. The guest remarked, “As you know, the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide was banned this year as well.”
Açık Radyo issued a statement declaring that the program could not be construed as inciting hatred or hostility. “The evaluations in the decision are not acceptable in line with universal law and journalistic principles. There is no expression in the program in question that exceeds the limits of freedom of expression and thought,” the station added.