ECHR sentences Turkey to pay compensation to Ozgur Radio

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Turkey was wrong to ban broadcasts of Ozgur (Free) Radio, saying that this violated freedom of expression, and sentenced it to pay €7,500 to the station as compensation. After the station read out on the air from a newspaper called Evrensel in 2003, it was taken off the air for one month by the Supreme Board of Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK), which cited the need to protect public order, and the station appealed the case to the ECHR. In its decision, the court said the radio station cited the source for the quoted material and that the ban was disproportional. The court also said the ban violated the principles of a democratic society, adding that forcing media outlets to keep their distance from the content of a quotation conflicts with their duty to inform the public.