By Norm Dixon
Britain's Independent Television Commission on March 22 suspended the license of the Kurdish satellite television station, Med TV, for 21 days, forcing it to cease broadcasting. The ban followed the station's screening of live footage in its news programs in which Kurdish leaders urged people to take action against the Turkish government's seizure of Kurdistan Workers Party leader Abdullah Ocalan.
The ITC's decision was based on a transcript supplied by the Turkish state in which a Kurdish rebel stated: "Our patriotic masses in Europe should not cross the boundaries of democratic measures ... The Kurdish people in Turkey, however, should adopt all kinds of fighting methods without losing any time." According to the ITC, the reporting of the views of Kurdish leaders constitute "calls to direct violence and criminal actions of various kinds" that are "likely to encourage or to incite crime or lead to disorder".
The spokesperson for the government of Turkey described the decision as "comforting and pleasing. We hope that Med TV will be closed not just for 21 days but forever." The ITC said Med TV must use the 21-day period to convince it as to why the station's license should not be revoked permanently.
Med TV's director Hikmet Tabak accused the ITC of bowing to pressure from Ankara. The Belgian government on March 18 also threatened to close the station's facilities.
Med TV operates out of Britain and produces programs in Belgium. Since 1995, its Kurdish and Turkish language programs (and also weekly English and Arabic programs) have been beamed into the homes of Kurds throughout Europe, Turkey and Kurdistan, and the Middle East. Med TV has an audience of 10 million. The station is funded mainly by the exile Kurdish community in Europe.
Turkish and European governments have attempted to shut down or restrict the station on many occasions, a recognition of the key role it plays in informing and organising the Kurdish community. It is illegal to watch Med TV in Turkey.
Letters of protest against the censorship of Med TV should be sent to the ITC at 33 Foley St, London, UK W1P 7LP, or faxed to 0011 44 171 396 7800.