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Turkey's Supreme Council of Radio and Television (RTÜK) imposed administrative fines on Sözcü TV and KOZA TV over what it described as untrue claims aired in coverage of a fund investigation. The council said the broadcasts prevented viewers from forming accurate opinions about ministers and government officials.

RTÜK announced the decisions after a meeting convened to discuss outstanding broadcast violations.

Sözcü TV programs examined

The council reviewed two Sözcü TV broadcasts: "Gazeteci Masası", presented by Serap Belovacıklı on October 7 with journalists Barış Terkoğlu, Murat Ağırel, İsmail Saymaz and Saygı Öztürk as guests, and "Bir Saat", presented by Damla Doğan Tuncel on October 8.

According to RTÜK, guest İsmail Saymaz claimed that Trade Minister Ömer Bolat was among the VIP members of a particular financial structure, that certain companies played a role in raising the value of the fund and that the minister was among those who invested early. In the following day's broadcast, presenter Damla Doğan Tuncel pointed to a photo from an event and made allegations against AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik about "intertwined relations".

Fine under broadcasting law

RTÜK concluded that the Sözcü TV programs hindered viewers from forming a correct and healthy opinion about ministers and government officials. The channel was fined for violating the provision set out in item (i) of the first paragraph of Article 8 of Law No. 6112 on the Establishment and Broadcasting Services of Radio and Television.

KOZA TV broadcasts also penalized

RTÜK also assessed violations in two KOZA TV programs broadcast on October 8: "Gün İzi", moderated by Evren Özalkuş, and "Günün Sonunda", moderated by Sorel Dağıstanlı.

In one program about the fund investigation, the remark "We are talking about an organized crime. We are talking about a plunder involving all the names of the government" was found to link all members of a political camp to grave criminal accusations. The council said the allegations were presented as certain and that the presenter did not even ask for their source.

KOZA TV was fined for breaching the rule requiring impartiality, factual accuracy and truthfulness, respect for society's free formation of opinion, and the ban on publishing news that has not been investigated or verified in line with professional journalistic principles.

Key takeaways

• RTÜK fined Sözcü TV for claims about Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik in two broadcasts.
• Sözcü TV was penalized under Article 8 of Law No. 6112 on broadcasting services.
• KOZA TV was fined over fund investigation remarks accusing government figures of organized crime.
• RTÜK said the KOZA TV presenter did not ask for the source of the allegations.