RTUK Recommends French Media Boycott

The Supreme Radio and Television Board (RTUK) of Turkey has issued a recommendation for all Turkish radio and television stations to impose a boycott on French media products in retaliation to the French Parliament's passing of a controversial bill criminalizing the denial of the existence of an "Armenian Genocide".

The recommendation was adopted in an October 17 meeting of the highest board regulating radio and television broadcasts in Turkey and members of RTUK voted in favor of it unanimously.

A statement issued by the Board after the decision referred to the French Parliament's decision to pass the Armenian Genocide Bill as "a great injustice done to the Turkish people" and continued:

"A decision has been taken to recommend radio and television broadcasting corporations in Turkey not to air French-sourced media products until the draft law proposal for the punishment of those denying the so-called Armenian genocide is completely off the agenda". (EO/II/YE)