Zarok TV (English: Kid TV) is the first Kurdish satellite television station in Turkey for Kurdish children, broadcasting since 21 March 2015, based in Diyarbakñr (Amed). The channel broadcasts programs in various Kurdish languages, specifically Kurmanji, being the most widely spoken Kurdish dialect in Turkey, Zazaki and some Sorani.
Accused of âÂÂseparatist and subversiveâ activities, it was shut down on 29 September 2016 under the emergency statutory decree issued during the aftermath of 15 July's failed coup d'état, alongside 12 other television and 11 radio stations, when the police raided the television station's headquarters. Zarok TV's director, said there were no warning before the closure.
In November 2016 the TV station was allowed to broadcast again after much criticism for the sudden closure. The European Parliament condemned the Turkish authorities stating âÂÂmisusingâ law in the aftermath of the unsuccessful coup attempt. Owner of Zarok TV and also several other cultural Kurdish TV channels, estimated the company had lost âÂÂ125-150 thousand dollarsâ in October due to closures.
The director of Zarok TV stated âÂÂIt is all about children, the culture, ways of life and language of the Kurds.â in addition mentioned âÂÂCartoons that are watched everywhere in the world, dubbed into Kurdish.âÂÂ. Zarok means kid/children in Kurdish.