Family Ministry takes action against TV show for hosting wife-killer

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Sefer Çalınak ;(L), 62, had hit headlines around the world when he appeared on a marriage program on private broadcaster Flash TV back in May.

A Family and Social Policy Ministry official has complained to Turkey’s media watchdog about a TV show that hosted a man who was previously found guilty of killing his two wives.

The ministry said via its official Twitter account that it had filed a complaint about the show, which was broadcast on private station Show TV, to the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK).

“It is unacceptable for the media, which is responsible for public service broadcasting, to have practices that legitimize violence against women. We condemn any statement or action that makes violence, crime and criminals look innocent. In this respect @ailebakanligi [Family Ministry] has made an official application to @RTUKONLINE [RTÜK’s Twitter account],” the ministry wrote.

Meanwhile, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Sabahat Akkiraz has also filed a criminal complaint against the TV show.

Sefer Çalınak, 62, had hit headlines around the world when he appeared on a marriage program on private broadcaster Flash TV back in May. Despite the fact that he had killed his two previous wives and was twice released from prison thanks to government amnesties, he was looking for a new spouse on the show. However, the host asked Çalınak to leave the set after learning of the crimes that he had committed.

Nevertheless, Çalınak appeared on screens across Turkey yet again on Sept. 2 alongside pop star-turned-TV-celebrity, Seda Sayan, on another private broadcaster, Show TV, stirring controversy in a country where domestic violence remains a serious social problem.

Speaking to the camera during the live broadcast, Sayan asked: “Have you ever seen a murderer with such a smiling face?” adding that he “could be forgiven if he repents.”

“Why does a man kill his wife anyway?” she also asked.