Watchdog fines series for domestic violence

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

The sitcom ‘Alemin Kıralı’ has been fined for ‘normalizing violence.’ Hürriyet photo

The Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK) has handed an 890,000 Turkish Lira fine to private broadcaster ATV and its foreign broadcast channel, for broadcasting a sitcom that allegedly “normalizes corporal punishment and promotes psychological and physical gender-based violence.”

A report prepared by RTÜK’s expert team said the show, “Alemin Kıralı,” featured a plot based on mocking “the learned helplessness” of the lead female character (Nihale), caricaturing the physical violence applied by her husband (Kubat) and using highly colloquial language.

The report also said the fictitious couple developed a sadomasochistic relationship and that Kubat “visibly derived a pleasure similar to sexual pleasure from beating his wife, which introduced a pornographic aspect to the plot.”

The board gave the fine on the basis of violating a fundamental term of Turkish broadcasting regulations, which bans broadcasters from promoting abuse and oppression of women and violating the principle of the equality of sexes.

Meanwhile, Davut Dursun, the head of RTÜK, said he personally watched the TV show “Muhteşem Yüzyıl” (The Magnificent Century) for entertainment, but strongly criticized its depiction of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. “In the Middle East, this show is broadcast with the title ‘Sultan’s Harem.’ We could also expect the filmmakers to make modifications to the script in consideration of the ongoing discussions about the show,” Dursun said.

The series focuses on the life of Ottoman Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent and his love for his wife Hürrem Sultan.