Acik Radyo stays silent as Turkish media regulator revokes license

With the Beach Boys’ farewell song “Good Vibrations,” a Turkish radio station went silent this week after nearly 30 years of broadcasts.

Acik Radyo’s latest broadcast on Wednesday came as a court upheld the Turkish media regulator’s order to revoke the Istanbul-based station’s license due to mention of “Armenian genocide” on air.

Following the court’s October 8 ruling, the Supreme Radio and Television Council, known as RTUK, informed Acik Radyo that it must stop broadcasting within five days.

The license revocation order silenced the independent radio station for the first time since it began terrestrial broadcasting in 1995.

“We are ending now; thank you to all the listeners and supporters of Acik Radyo. Acik Radyo will remain open to all the sounds, colors and vibrations of the universe,” said Omer Madra, the editor-in-chief, on air before the last song played.

The license revocation is related to comments made on air by journalist Cengiz Aktar on April 24. Aktar said the day was “the 109th anniversary, the anniversary of the massacres of Armenians, that is, of the deportations and massacres that took place in the Ottoman lands, the massacres that are called genocide.”

“This year, the commemoration of the Armenian genocide was also banned, you know,” Aktar said.

In a statement to VOA’s Turkish service, RTUK said that “the terms ‘genocide’ and ‘massacre’ were used for the events of 1915, and the program moderator made no attempt to correct this.”

The term “Events of 1915” is how Turkish authorities typically refer to the murder of some 1.5 million Armenians in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey denies that the deaths constitute genocide, saying the toll was inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

April 24 is recognized as the day to commemorate the beginning of what many historians and countries, including the United States, Canada and France, recognize as the Armenian genocide.

Cutting transmissions

Turkey’s media regulator first imposed an administrative fine and five-day suspension on Acik Radyo in May over the guest’s statements.

RTUK said the broadcast broke the law by inciting public hatred and enmity by making distinctions “on the basis of race, language, religion, gender, class, region and religious order”.

On July 3, the regulator decided to revoke the license, saying Acik Radyo had not complied with the suspension.

In a statement, the radio said it intended to comply and paid the first installment of the administrative fine. He added that the non-implementation of the suspension was the result of “technical inconvenience”.

An RTUK official told VOA that according to the law, if a media provider continues to broadcast after a suspension, “the Supreme Council will decide on the revocation of its broadcasting license.”

“As can be seen, the legislator did not grant the Supreme Council any discretion in this matter and made it mandatory to cancel the license if the sanction is not applied,” the head of RTUK told VOA.

Acik Radyo defended the guest’s statement as being “within the scope of freedom of expression”.

When Acik Radyo appealed the fine and suspension, a court in July ruled in favor of the broadcaster.

But RTUK opposed the court’s decision, and on October 8, the court ruled in favor of the regulator.

Umit Altas, Acik Radyo’s lawyer, called RTUK’s move “excessive intervention”.

“RTUK’s decision to revoke the license, which is the most severe penalty, goes against all precedent. This exceeded the proportionality criteria of the Turkish Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights. Canceling the license is the most severe decision We think it is not legal to make such a decision,” Altas told Turkish VOA.

The broadcaster has appealed the most recent court ruling and its lawyer expects a verdict within a month.

Acik Radyo broadcast coordinator Didem Gencturk told VOA Turkish that the station is evaluating its options. She said RTUK also requires internet broadcasters to obtain a license.

“We have the right to apply for different forms of license as broadcasters. We hope to continue our broadcasts with one of them, even if it is not on a terrestrial (land-based) medium,” Gencturk said.

Supporters gather

On Wednesday night, listeners and supporters of Acik Radyo gathered in front of the channel’s studios in Istanbul to show their solidarity.

Madra read a statement and called the license withdrawal “an attempt to silence the public voice.”

Madra added that the broadcaster is evaluating its options for continuing broadcasts.

“There is no way Acik Radyo will be silenced or forgotten after the RTUK decision. Let me even say that we will be able to get (the license) back,” Madra told Turkish VOA.

Some of those who gathered outside the station contributed to programming over the years.

“We will not give in to despair. We will bring our broadcasts to our listeners and supporters as quickly as possible,” said Yesim Burul, who produces “Sinefil”, a program about cinema, for Acik Radyo.

Murat Meric, who produces several musical shows, appealed for solidarity and said he was preparing to continue his show.

Turkish actress Tulin Ozen told VOA Turkish that she grew up at the station.

“I think the silencing of Acik Radyo is an embarrassment to Turkey. I’m here because I’m against censorship in general. I’m here because I’m against being silenced,” Ozen said.

This story originated in VOA’s Turkish service.