Turkish President[/B] Tayyip Erdogan today threatened the media with retaliation, if they disseminate content that damages the country's core values, in a move that could be a prelude to further censorship.[/B]
In a statement published in the Government Gazette, Erdogan argues that measures are needed to protect Turkey's "national culture" and to protect its children "from negative influence as a result of their exposure to harmful content in all print, oral and visual media."
Erdogan does not specify what this content is, but says legal action may be taken against "overt or covert activities through the media aimed at undermining our national and moral values and dismantling our family and social structure."
Erdogan has been in power for nearly 20 years and frequently criticizes media outlets for content that is not in line with the conservative Islamic values espoused by his party, the AKP.
In recent years, Turkey has also increased its control of the media. Currently, about 90 percent of major media outlets are state-owned or pro-government.
Western allies and critics have said Erdogan is using the failed 2016 coup attempt to silence dissent and erode social rights and tolerance.
The government denies this, claiming that the measures are necessary because of the severity of the threats facing Turkey and that freedom of religious expression has been restored in this once very secular democracy.
The Turkish Broadcasting Council (RTUK) has sweeping powers to control any electronic media content and can also remove it.
It has fined TV stations for images it says violate Turkish values, such as music videos it has described as "erotic", references to LGBTI people or content it considers offensive to the president.
Tens of thousands have been prosecuted, including Sedef Kabas, a well-known journalist who was jailed last week after she posted a proverb about Erdogan's mansion on her Twitter account and repeated it on an opposition TV channel.
Source: Proto Thema
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