The National Audiovisual Council of Romania (CNA) fined the public television, TVR with 50,000 lei for the fact that TVR 3 and TVR Cluj played an anti-Semitic carol on December 6. The case will be discussed on Monday by the National Council against Discrimination (CNCD), according to CNCD chairman Csaba Asztalos. According to Mediafax, the fine established by CNA on Thursday was applied upon the suggestion of the Council chairperson, Laura Georgescu and voted by 7 members. The CNA sanction was applied because TVR infringed audiovisual regulations according to which “by broadcasting programs political and social pluralism, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity are ensured by observing fundamental rights and liberties” and those which forbid broadcasting any forms of anti-Semitic or xenophobic manifestations, according to ActMedia.eu.The Cluj Centre for Traditional Culture Preservation and Promotion’s Director Tiberiu Groza, the one who has chosen the carol – with connotations considered to be anti-Semitic – for being broadcast on TVR 3 on December 6, on Thursday apologized to the Jewish community in Romania, as well as to those who felt offended by the song’s lyrics.
‘Remarking with great regret the inflammation of the media and of the representatives of the Jewish community in Romania regarding the broadcasting of the carol sung by the Dor Transilvan folk ensemble, considered to be an anti-Semitic carol, I feel compelled to send this press release for the proper and full understanding of the blunder made on this occasion,’ Tiberius Groza said in a release.
He explained that the TVR Cluj had asked him to bring carol-singers for a TVR3 show, and on the day of filming the show he sent the CD with his carol proposals: ‘Îngerul Domnului’ [Angel of the Lord] and ‘Aseara, pe inserate’ [Last Night, at Nightfall]. The carols were chosen out of the 26 existing carols on the CD, as they were not too long and not too well-known, so that the ensemble may not appear on TV with the same carols, year after year. ‘Although I have heard them many times, I did not realize that they can offend a community that I respect. Four hours before the show, I sent the CD with my carol proposal to the TVR producers. It appears they discovered nothing inappropriate either and accepted the carols proposed,’ said Groza.
He added that not even after the ending of the show did anyone realize that a blunder had been made.
‘Of course, the Jewish people – who suffered terrible atrocities which even today I cannot explain to myself how they were possible – pay great attention and sensitivity to anything that may be a danger. Pain and fear are deeply ingrained in people’s consciousness and that is absolutely understandable. Thereby, I understand the reaction of the community and I am deeply sorry for that blunder,’ said Groza, who reminded that for years he has been promoting culture, including the heritage of the ethnic groups living in Transylvania, and that he has never had unpleasant incidents.
Tiberiu Groza also added that the song had been collected 50 years ago in a village near Cluj.
