A Turkish Administrative Court has issued a stay of execution on the revocation of the radio channel Açık Radyo’s license.
RTÜK initially fined the radio channel 189,282 Turkish liras and suspended its broadcasts for five days due to statements made during a program on April 24, 2024, regarding the Armenian Genocide.
RTÜK later argued that the radio channel failed to comply with the suspension for “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” and revoked its license last week.
In a social media post on July 10, Açık Radyo announced that an administrative court had issued a stay of execution for RTÜK’s revocation, stating the move “may cause irreparable damage if implemented” since RTÜK’s initial penalty was the temporary suspension of the program. The revocation decision referenced remarks by a guest about the “Armenian genocide commemoration” and the program host’s failure to make a correction.
RTÜK, whose policymaking board is dominated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its allies, frequently fines broadcasters critical of the government and those it deems “immoral.”
