MESOP “ERDOGAN’S DARKNESS OVER TURKEY” – Turkey suspends Kurdish TV channels with a decree law – Turkey’s Kurdish Azadi TV

29 Sept 2016 – DIYARBAKIR-AMED, Turkey’s Kurdish region,— 10 TV channels including those broadcasting in Kurdish were removed from Turkish satellite company Türksat and their broadcast was suspended in line with a decree law.

The AKP government’s witch hunt under the guise of “fight against coup” has now extended to dissident television channels. The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) said in a statement accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of limiting free speech. “AKP government is trying to shut down different voices. The voice of the free expression cannot be stopped,” HDP tweeted on Wednesday.

10 TV channels, which include the Kurdish Hayatın Sesi TV, Azadi TV, Jiyan TV, Van TV, TV10 and children’s channel Zarok TV, removed from Turkish satellite company Türksat and their broadcast was suspended in line with a decree law late Wednesday evening.While the targeted TV channels did not receive an official notification regarding the suspension, İlhan Yerlikaya from Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) stated that the ban has been imposed within the scope of a decree law. Reports suggest that RTÜK will also discuss the closure of the suspended TV channels during the coming days. The suspended TV channels were subject to numerous fines during the recent period and many TV channels close to the Gülen Movement were similarly suspended through a decree law issued by the government in the wake of the coup attempt of July 15. www.mesop.de