The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), alongside 60 press organizations and civil society groups, issued a joint statement condemning Turkey’s broadcasting regulator, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), for revoking the terrestrial broadcasting license of the independent station Open Radio (Açık Radyo). The statement emphasized that the silencing of Open Radio, known for promoting diverse and critical voices and shedding light on issues of public concern, represents a significant blow to independent radio broadcasting in Turkey.
The statement, signed by 60 organizations, expressed deep concern over the threat this poses to the future of independent media in Turkey. It emphasized that since its establishment in 1995, Open Radio has been a crucial platform for discussing vital topics such as war and peace, environmental and climate issues, public health, gender equality, and multiculturalism. The statement called on Turkish authorities to fulfill their constitutional and international obligations to protect freedom of the press and restore Open Radio’s license.
Legal battles over the license revocation
The statement also addressed the legal proceedings surrounding Open Radio’s license. On July 10, Ankara’s 21st Administrative Court temporarily halted RTÜK’s decision to suspend the station’s programming, citing potential irreversible damage. However, RTÜK appealed the decision, and although a regional court upheld the suspension on August 9, the administrative court later reversed its stance, rejecting Open Radio’s request for a stay of execution. Open Radio has announced plans to appeal the decision through legal channels.
Background of the revocation
RTÜK initially fined Open Radio and suspended its broadcasts after a program guest on the station’s Open Gazete show referred to the Armenian Genocide in a broadcast on April 24, 2024. The guest’s remarks led to accusations of "inciting hatred and enmity" under Turkey’s broadcasting laws. Although Open Radio paid the fine, it continued to operate. RTÜK later claimed the station had violated the terms of its suspension and moved to revoke the station’s terrestrial broadcasting license, which was officially delivered to Open Radio on October 11, 2024. As a result, the station’s terrestrial broadcasts on 95.0 FM ceased on October 16.
Impact on independent media and access to information
The revocation of Open Radio’s license severely restricts the station’s ability to reach its audience through traditional radio channels. As Open Radio approaches its 30th anniversary, this action represents a serious escalation in efforts to suppress independent media in Turkey. The joint statement calls this decision a direct violation of freedom of expression as protected by Turkey’s Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
The signatories called on RTÜK to reverse its decision and urged the Turkish authorities to protect media pluralism and press freedom. They also urged the public, media organizations, and the international community to support Open Radio in its fight against censorship.
Signatories
The statement was signed by numerous national and international press and civil society organizations, including:
- International Press Institute (IPI)
- ARTICLE 19 Europe
- European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
- Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
- Turkish Journalists Union (TGS)
- PEN International
- Freedom House
- Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
- Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)
The statement highlights the increasing censorship in Turkey and the threats it poses to media freedom and the public's right to access diverse viewpoints and information.
