ISTANBUL: Turkey’s radio and television watchdog has suspended a TV programme hosted by a Muslim televangelist that blended theological discussion and dancing, saying it violated gender equality and women’s rights.

Adnan Oktar, also known as Harun Yahya, hosts talk show programmes on his television channel, A9, where he has discussed Islamic values and sometimes danced with young women he calls “kittens” and sang with young men, his “lions”.

The punishment was imposed after Ali Erbas, the head of Turkey’s directorate of religious affairs, criticised the 62-year-old Oktar’s broadcasts last week for mixing religious and profane elements.

Erbas said it was inappropriate to have religious references and belly dancing in the same programme, according to Hurriyet newspaper, and the watchdog said it had received 6,000 complaints against Oktar’s channel so far this year.

Oktar said he respected the watchdog’s decision and is complying with the regulator, but that the criticism of his programmes is unjustified.

Religion and entertainment are not incompatible, he added.

“One can remember God while taking a shower, at weddings, or at engagements parties. I don’t find it right to say that the holy Quran, religion and God should not be named in these kinds of events,” he said.

The media watchdog ordered that television broadcasts of the talk show be suspended for five episodes, saying it was insulting to women and promoted repression and abuse.

It also imposed a fine equal to five percent of the channel’s monthly advertising income because it said the channel was encouraging the audience to switch to its web stream, which the watchdog does not currently have the authority to monitor.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2018