Shuttered Turkish radio station denies licence was cancelled over the phrase 'Armenian genocide'

This text was initially revealed in Turkish

Open Radio’s founder mentioned that an on-air use of the phrase ‘Armenian genocide’ had been taken out of context.

One of many oldest radio channels in Turkey, Açık Radyo (Open Radio), whose license was revoked by the Turkish Radio and Tv Supreme Council (RTÜK) a month earlier than its thirtieth yr on air, stopped its terrestrial programming on Wednesday.

Open Radio founder Ömer Madra advised Euronews in an interview that regardless of hypothesis circulating on-line, the station’s license was revoked not due to using the phrase “Armenian genocide” however as a result of the operators had did not droop their broadcast on 5 explicit days the regulator had ordered them to.

Madra defined that he and his colleagues weren’t correctly knowledgeable of the actual dates on which they had been speculated to droop their broadcast, in order that they continued as standard.

It was Madra who spoke the final phrases broadcast from the station:* “Open Radio will stay open to all sounds, colours and vibrations of the universe.”

Open Radio, which started broadcasting in 1995, was handed a fantastic of 280,000 Turkish lira (€7,500) and a five-day broadcast suspension after a broadcast on 24 April when a visitor used the phrase “Armenian genocide” whereas discussing occasions commemorating the 1915-17 atrocity, which stays an especially controversial topic in Turkey.

Madra advised Euronews that following the sanction, they weren’t advised the precise dates once they needed to cease the broadcasting and didn’t obtain the digital discover relating to them resulting from software program and technical points.

The founder additionally underlined that RTÜK didn’t deem this rationalization acceptable, and thus revoked the terrestrial broadcast license.

The a 79-year-old Madra described the final moments of the printed with a touch of disappointment.

“There have been 6 minutes left to modify off the printed,” he recalled. “Nonetheless, since we couldn’t elevate 41 broadcasters to participate within the final broadcast, 41 individuals mentioned just one phrase; ‘Whats up’. We closed by saying ‘howdy’ 41 occasions.”

On Thursday, October 17, the day after the license was revoked and the final broadcast was carried out, the station’s group arrived at work as if for one more regular day. They switched on their computer systems and ready the studio gear as they did every single day — however no broadcast could possibly be transmitted.

Phrases taken out of context

Chatting with Euronews Turkish concerning the course of main as much as the cancellation, Madra insisted that the phrase “Armenian genocide” within the broadcast on 24 April was taken out of context.

“On that day, within the part of Açık Gazete, our fundamental information broadcast, wherein Cengiz Akdar participated, an analysis was made concerning the historical past of (Armenian genocide) commemorations and the purpose they’d reached.

“The next was mentioned: ‘Whereas the commemoration is being held right here below the safety of legislation enforcement, even (Armenian Prime Minister Nikol) Pashinyan didn’t utter the phrase ‘genocide’ at this time.'”

“The present attitudes of various political actors on the problem had been talked about and the next phrases had been spoken: ‘It’s the 109th anniversary of the deportations and massacres that happened in Armenian, that’s, Ottoman lands, massacres which might be referred to as ‘genocide’. As you understand, the Armenian genocide commemoration was banned this yr as properly’.”

Following using these phrases, RTÜK imposed the fantastic and suspension on the grounds of “inciting the society to hatred and hostility or creating emotions of hatred within the society,” in accordance with Turkish legislation.

Madra acknowledged that they haven’t solely appealed the fantastic but in addition begun to adjust to it.

“We nonetheless have our receipt for the primary instalment. Nonetheless, since we didn’t obtain an digital notification on the dates of the printed suspension, we continued our broadcasts as standard.”

Stating that the method is being carried out as if the station doesn’t care concerning the penalty imposed on them by, Madra mentioned: “We despatched a petition saying ‘give us a brand new date’, because the broadcast suspension dates couldn’t attain because of the notification downside.”

“Though the textual content of the Supreme Council’s choice was opened within the notification despatched electronically, the textual content indicating the closure dates couldn’t be opened resulting from a software program error within the digital notification system. Due to this fact, since we weren’t conscious (of the printed suspension dates), the choice couldn’t be carried out.”

“However, when the fantastic was included within the choice, an software was made to RTÜK for cost and the primary instalment was paid. They accepted this. We additionally acquired the receipt.”

Madra additionally mentioned that the primary broadcasting ban choice was not imposed on all of Açık Radyo’s programmes however solely on the present that included the phrase “Armenian genocide” and the individuals concerned with it.

Confusion and refusal

Explaining that RTÜK didn’t reply to their petition requesting a brand new date for the printed ban, Madra recalled that in July, RTÜK had the truth is suspended the execution of the license cancellation.

“Within the lawsuit we filed towards the penalty choice, the twenty first Administrative Court docket issued a keep of execution on the penalty till the administration’s defence was submitted. RTÜK additionally appealed to the next courtroom towards the keep of execution choice, however this was rejected by the upper courtroom. Consequently, RTÜK didn’t notify us on the license cancellation choice.”

However on October 8, 2024, the twenty first Administrative Court docket re-evaluated the case and cancelled the keep.

“Earlier than we may object to this, RTÜK instantly notified us of the choice to cancel the terrestrial broadcasting license it had beforehand taken and our license was cancelled,” Madra mentioned.

The way forward for Open Radio

Madra says he and his colleagues are hopeful that the cancellation of their terrestrial broadcasting license shall be “a minimum of quickly suspended”.

“We can not say 100%, however legally it is a nice risk,” he mentioned. “We are able to get our acquired rights again. Nonetheless, within the reverse case, we can not apply for a similar terrestrial broadcasting license.”

“Because the FM band in Istanbul may be very dense, no new license purposes will be made. There are numerous firms that haven’t already been allotted a frequency and are ready in line. In such a case, we’d already be within the final place.”

Whereas acknowledging that there isn’t a clear timeline for the authorized course of, Madra nonetheless sounded hopeful.

“We hope to be again on air inside every week to 10 days,” he mentioned. “Nobody will be 100% certain. Even when we can not return to terrestrial broadcasting, within the worst-case situation, we are able to proceed with digital broadcasting throughout the identical time frame, and it could even be just some days earlier than we get permission to modify to digital broadcasting.”

“In fact, we had deliberate all of the preparations as of June. We’ve made a whole lot of preparations.”

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