Punishing Radio Broadcasts over the Internet

Fusun Erdogan, chief coordinator of the "Ozgur Radyo" (Free Radio) in Istanbul, stood trial for broadcasting over the Internet after the Radio and Television Higher Board (RTUK) ordered the radio off the air.

The court handed the radio and Erdogan a total of 4 billion Turkish lira (USD 3,000), then postponed the fine. The court said the radio programs were being broadcasted over the Internet since August 5, 2002.

An Istanbul court on Wednesday sentenced Erdogan to six months in prison, then commuted to sentence to a fine.

The court said publishing radio data over the Internet despite the fact that the radio had been ordered off the air was the same as broadcasting over the radio.

The court first handed a fine to the company and sentenced Erdogan to six months in prison. It then commuted Erdogan's sentence to a fine, which amounted to a total of 4 billion Turkish lira (USD 3,000).

Then the court postponed the fine and said there was no need to confiscate the radio's equipments.

Defense lawyer Akif Karapinar said they would appeal the case and added that if the outcome is still negative, they would consider taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). (EO/BB/EA/YE)