A higher court has upheld a Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) penalty that will take TELE1 off the air for five days starting the night of Aug. 31, unless the broadcaster’s latest appeal succeeds.
Ankara’s 23rd Administrative Court had initially suspended the blackout order, but that ruling was overturned. TELE1 has now appealed the rejection of its stay of execution request.
The sanction stems from remarks by journalist Merdan Yanardağ on the show “4 Questions, 4 Answers”, where he described the July 15, 2016 coup attempt as “Islamist” and blamed the ruling AKP government. RTÜK ruled that the comments incited hatred and hostility.
