ISTANBUL – Turkey’s broadcasting watchdog banned four adult television channels Friday, saying their erotic programming flouted Turkish cultural values.

The channels, Adult Channel, Exotica TV, Playboy TV and Rouge TV, are available at night via Turkey’s only satellite broadcaster, Digiturk.

In a statement, the Radio and Television High Council, cited a license requirement that programming be in “the public service and … in line with the national, moral, humane, spiritual and cultural values of the Turkish people.”

Turkey, a candidate for European Union membership, strictly separates state and religion but most of its 70 million people are devout Muslims. The conservative watchdog rarely imposes bans on broadcasters, but regularly issues short suspensions for minor infringements.