It was decided that the book titled Storybook Series 3: I am reading too – Magical Rainbow has certain ‘characteristics that have a detrimental effect on the spiritual well-being and development of children under 18’.
The decision of the Board of Protection of Minors from Obscene Publications, which operates under the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, was published in the Official Gazette of 3 January 2021. The decision stipulates that certain statements and descriptions included in the book titled ‘The Magical Rainbow’ have characteristics that have a detrimental effect on the spiritual well-being and development of children under 18.
According to a statement published in the Official Gazette, the Board of Protection of Minors from Obscene Publications made the following assessment regarding the book:
‘‘The book tells the story of a boy named Yılmaz, who, having been influenced by a story which claims that when boys and girls walk beneath the rainbow girls become boys and boys become girls, has a dream in which he and his friend Dilek walk beneath the rainbow, change sex soon after that and return to their original sex after walking beneath the rainbow once again. The book includes certain statements that encourage gender change, which could lead children of different age groups who read the book to question their sexual identity. The book has the potential to harm children’s mental and emotional health and balanced development and have a detrimental effect on their personal development and spiritual well-being.’’
In this scope, the book can only be sold to individuals above 18 years of age provided that it is placed in an opaque envelope or bag which indicates the following statement: ‘harmful for children’.
