Turkey relaxes Kurdish language restrictions on TV

Istanbul - The Turkish government has removed restrictions limiting the amount of time private TV channels can broadcast in languages other than Turkish, the semi-official Anatolian Agency reported Friday. The lifting of the time restrictions is being seen as another step in the government's "democratization initiative", a reform program mostly aimed at easing longstanding tensions with Turkey's large Kurdish minority.

Previously, television and radio stations could only broadcast a few hours a week of non-Turkish programs. These programs were also required to include Turkish subtitles.

A new bylaw enacted by the government does away with the time limitations and the subtitle requirement, although educational programs in languages other than Turkish are still forbidden.

Turkey's state broadcaster launched TRT Ses, a 24-hour Kurdish channel, last January. Up until now, though, time limits still applied to private broadcasters wishing to air programs in Kurdish.

The Turkish parliament is expected to debate the initiative later Friday.