Turkey’s media watchdog fines TV channel after pundit’s lewd remarks on Bosnians

ISTANBUL

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) ruled on Nov. 24 to impose a penalty against private broadcaster Beyaz TV after Turkish pundit Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı made sexually explicit comments targeting Bosnians during a live sports show.

RTÜK ordered Beyaz TV to suspend the sports show “Derin Football” (Deep Football) for five programs and also issued a pecuniary fine on the channel after Kütahyalı’s remarks.

Kütahytalı was immediately fired from the station after his lewd remarks about Bosnians.

His remarks had also drawn condemnation from Bosnian and Balkan associations, politicians, actors and sportspeople, as well as a storm on social media.

However, on Nov. 22 Kütahyalı defended himself, stating he loved the country and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan unconditionally.

“I love my country and Erdoğan unconditionally. My personal situation is not important. I stand by Erdoğan even if they try to lynch or kill me,” Kütahyalı said in a Twitter flood, stating that his words resulted from “silliness.”