Oktay Sahbaz, from the Day-Mer Community Centre in London, has issued the following appeal:
Hayat TV to close down
Hayat TV, a progressive Turkish TV channel, has received a closure order from the Turkish broadcasting regulator RTUK, Radio & Television High Commission, in effect from 12:00 p.m. Friday, 14th June 2013.
The closure order was given with the pretext that Hayat TV, which has been broadcasting since March 2007, has no licence.
This is not true. And there is every reason to believe that this decision is completely linked to the recent events in Turkey.
The last couple of weeks have witnessed a significant popular movement in Turkey. It started in Istanbul’s Gezi Park and quickly spread all over the country as a protest movement against the current government’s anti-democratic implementations and for more democratic rights and freedoms.
Since the first day of the protests Hayat TV has given a wide coverage to these events despite the government’s warnings and its attempts for censorship.
It is because of this that Hayat TV is facing closure, and four other TV channels have been given a fine by RTUK.
We condemn this arbitrary and unlawful decision which is an attack on democratic rights and freedoms and call for it to be reversed.
Please copy and send the following text to the authorities listed below.
I, the undersigned, have heard that Hayat TV, a progressive Turkish TV channel has received a closure order by RTUK, Radio & Television High Commission, in effect from Friday, 14th June 2013.
I strongly believe that this is an attack on democratic rights and freedoms and urge for this decision to be reversed.
Your name & role
Radio & Television High Commission
Binali Yildirim, Minister for Transport, Maritime and Communication
Prime Minister’s Office
