Turkey fines popular TV series after religious controversy

Turkey's radio and television watchdog RTUK on Thursday placed a two-week broadcasting ban on the popular television series "Kizil Goncalar" (Crimson Buds), a board member said, as it was deemed to be against "society's national and spiritual values."

Ilhan Tasci, a member of the RTUK board representing the main opposition, said on social media platform X that the regulator had also imposed a 3% administrative fine on broadcaster Fox TV, owned by Walt Disney Co. unit Fox Networks Group.

"Kizil Goncalar," which highlights the division between religious and secular segments of society, faced immediate backlash after it was first aired on December 18, even though its first two episodes topped ratings lists and had more than 10 million views on YouTube.

RTUK has often penalized shows over what it has labeled as violations of Turkey's moral values, the structure of...