Turkish TV channel fined for airing 'insulting' episode of The Simpsons

[muriel_volestrangler]

Turkey's broadcasting regulator has fined a television channel for insulting religious values after it aired an episode of The Simpsons that shows God taking orders from the devil.

Radio and television watchdog RTUK said it was hitting private broadcaster CNBC-e with a 52,951-lira (£18,600) fine over the episode of the hit US animated TV series, whose scenes include the devil asking God to make him a coffee.

"The board has decided to fine the channel over these matters," an RTUK spokeswoman said, adding that full details would probably be announced next week.

CNBC-e said it would comment once the fine was officially announced.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/03/turkish-channel-fined-the-simpsons

Well, it's not a huge fine for some organisations, though I've no idea how big CNBC-e is - it is associated with NBC, but is described as a 'franchise': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNBC-e (which also says it broadcasts South Park - not all episodes, I'd guess, if this is how the Turkish authorities react to The Simpsons). But the principle is really crappy - Turkey needs to get its act together if it's going to join the EU.

[trotsky]

1. Some DUers have suggested that there should be consequences for expressing blasphemous ideas.

This is how censorship is empowered.

[rug]

2. And the Fazil Say prosecution continues for a tweet.

[cbayer]

3. It is really sad to see Turkey turn in this direction.

It has an opportunity to be the shining star of diversity and tolerance, but is looking more and more like an intolerant theocracy.