Turkey fines broadcaster over Pink music video 'of homosexual nature'

The Turkish television watchdog has fined a television channel for broadcasting a music video by US pop singer Pink which it said "featured erotic dance figures of a homosexual nature," according to Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News.

The Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) fined local broadcaster AS TV 17,000 liras (2800 USD) over the video for Pink's latest song "Secrets", which it said was broadcast during hours when children and young people could watch and be "negatively influenced".

The video by the Grammy-award singer contains an array of couples, some same sex, dancing against a grafitti wall, at times suggestively.

Pink, who has scored countless hits over her 20-year career, is an outspoken LGBT+ ally.

Speaking of her LGBT+ following, she said in a 2012 interview: “They’ve been the most loyal part of what I do. They’ve been my most loyal friends, to be honest. I’ve had a lot of my gay boys around, but my gay girls are my rootstalk. They’re my honesty in an ocean of bullshit. I should be gay by the way that I look and the way that I am. I just happen to not be. But it just makes perfect and complete sense.”

AS TV is a small local channel based in the industrial province of Bursa in western Turkey.

RTUK has historically sanctioned broadcasters over "inappropriate" content such as kissing scenes and adult language. 

In March this year its powers were expanded to encompass the supervision of online content in Turkey.

Although homosexual acts are officially legal in Turkey, the LGBT+ community is severely marginalised. Authorities have banned the annual Gay Pride march in Istanbul for four years in a row, citing it to be a "danger to public safety".

Last year Turkish authorities also banned a German-language gay film festival in Ankara, on the grounds it could incite hatred and be at risk from a terror attack. 

Follow us on Twitter: @The_NewArab