’Fiery’ scene leads to fine from watchdog

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

According to Internet news portal Gazateport, the Supreme Board of Radio and Television, or RTÜK, prepared a report that was submitted to its executive board arguing that the love scene between characters Bihter and Behlul in the show "Aşk-i Memnu" (The Forbidden Love) was too fiery, and asked for Kanal D and the show to be fined. Both Kanal D and the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review are part of the Doğan Media Group. RTÜK’s executive board will assess the report and decide on how to proceed.

According to the RTÜK report, the June 18 season finale of the show, adapted from a book of the same name by Turkish novelist Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil, included a love scene that lasted 5 minutes and 30 seconds. The scene was between the main character, played by actor Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, and actress Beren Saat, who was playing his uncle’s wife.

The watchdog’s assessment bureau said it had received a complaint about the scene that said, "The inclusion of such a love scene in a television show deemed suitable for family viewing violated Turkish family norms."

The bureau’s report said the detailed and long nature of the scene was done just to increase the show’s rating, claiming that such "unnatural relations" harmed the family structure irreparably.

It also said the same book was turned into a six-episode TV show by the state-owned Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, or TRT, 34 years ago and had received no such criticism. RTÜK has the authority to issue a fine or even suspend the show.