JINHA

AMED – Children, watchers of Zarok TV, said the channels had been shut up in order to prevent them to learn Kurdish. They said, “Don’t ban our channel and cartoons.”

Two days ago, Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) suspended the broadcast of 10 TV channels, including Hayatın Sesi, Azadi TV, Jiyan TV, Van TV, TV10 and children's channel Zarok TV within the scope of the decree law No. 668 which was issued during the process of State of Emergency after the attempted coup on July 15. Zarok TV is a children’s channel and children watched cartoons, clips and animation films on the channel. The children want their channel back. One of these children is Muhammed Dinar (11), he said, “I watched Zarok TV with my siblings. The cartoons become funnier because they are in Kurdish language. We want Zarok TV back.”

Muhammed Tarhan (14) said he learned Kurdish language while watching Zarok TV. He said, “Why shut down a channel that airs cartoons? Those who shot down Zarok TV should open it immediately. We become happy while watching it. We had a channel but it was gone when I woke up. My mother told us the channel had been shut down. We felt so sad when we heard that.”

Süleyman Aksu (11) expressed he wanted the only children’s channel broadcast in Kurdish to be opened immediately and said, “They shut down Zarok TV; however, we learned our language through it. I want Zarok TV to be opened immediately and our cartoons not be banned.” All children want that.”

12-year-old Havin Beyaz, who live in the İskenderpaşa Neighborhood of Diyarbakır’s Sur district and hasn’t gone to school because her teacher has been suspended from duty since the school year began, said, “Why they shut down Zarok TV? I am fluent in my language due to Zarok TV. I don’t want learn Turkish. My small sibling can also speak Kurdish due to this channel. What do I watch while staying at home now?”

Muhammed Canbey, meanwhile, said, “I improve my language through Zarok TV. They shut down our channel in order to prevent us to learn our language. I love this channel very much.”

Şevval Can also said Zarok TV should be opened immediately and said, “That channel was very good for children.”

(ekip/gc/gd)