ANKARA, Turkey, April 9, 2002 — Turkey's broadcasting authority has pulled the plug on a Christian radio station for broadcasting Bible verses. Radyo Shema in Ankara is one of the four Christian radio stations in Turkey.
The station was closed for reading the third chapter of John on the air said station manager Ismail Serinken.
This particular reading violates "justice in the broadcast, objectivity, and respect for the law." It seems the broadcast authorities interpreted John 3:18, which reads that "whoever does not believe stands condemned," as suggesting that Christians were above the law.
The decision has been appealed by the station. "If this ruling is applied, it means that we can't ever read the Gospel on the air," said Serinken. The authorities initially closed the radio station for a day, but another board ordered it be kept off air for a month.
Missionary activity is not explicitly outlawed in this predominantly Muslim country, but authorities sometimes charge Christians with insulting Islam or disturbing the peace.
Radyo Shema's broadcasts were mainly targeted at the 2,000 members of the Protestant Christian community. Christians represent less than 1% of the population of Turkey.
Another Station Targeted
The board has also laid criminal charges against the managers of another Christian station, Radyo Kumru, for broadcasting "Christian propaganda."
The board could not close the station because its Christian programs are broadcast on shortwave frequencies from abroad. Officials from Radyo Kumru could not be reached for comment.
"It's not a crime. What does 'propaganda' mean? It's very broad and uncertain," Serinken said. "As Christians, we respect the state. We should be able to read the Gospel on the air."
Source: Bible Network News, with notes from Associated Press
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