RTÜK Reprimand for "Slang and Curses"

The Radio and Television Supreme Council issued a warning to the series "Behzat Ç." because of "using poor Turkish and slang". The use of alcohol in the series was criticized too. Screenwriter Serbes said that the format of the series would not change.

Ayça Söylemez

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) issued a warning to Star TV because of the series "Behzat Ç.". The reprimand was reasoned by "using poor Turkish and slang". The use of alcohol in the series was criticized as well by the council.

Thereupon, supporters of the series initiated a campaign via Twitter. Screenwriter Emrah Serbes told bianet that they were not going to change anything about the script of the series.

As reported on 8 June, RTÜK issued the warning because of an alleged "negative influence on the physical, mental and moral development of children and juveniles". According to the council, the series should be broadcasted later in the evening in order to protect the younger viewers.

RTÜK member Vahap Darendeli furthermore highlighted that the police officers shown in the series were driving after drinking. Darendeli suggested an additional reprimand for a supposed encouragement to consume alcohol. He concluded, "Sanctions should be applied because the series encourages the use of addictive substances such as alcohol".

"No change in the script"

Supporters of the series initiated the campaign "BehzatCmeDokunma" ('Don't touch my Behzat Ç.') via the social networking site Twitter. Within a short time, the initiative rocketed to the first place in the section of "trends" in Turkey.

Screenwriter Serbes criticized the reprimand on his Twitter account. He announced that the script was not going to change after the warning and that the series would be continued in the very same format. (AS/VK)

Ayça Söylemez

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Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Felsefe Bölümü mezunu. Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi Sosyoloji bölümünde yüksek lisans yaptı. Marmara Üniversitesi İletişim Bilimleri’nde doktora yapıyor. Vatan, Akşam, HaberTürk ve Hürriyet gazetelerinin yazıişleri ve dış haberler bölümünde çalıştı. Güncel Hukuk dergisinde yazıları yayınlandı. BirGün’de Anonim adlı köşeyi yazıyor. 2011’den bu yana bianet’te İnsan Hakları Editörü.