Turkish court blocks access to association project announcing banned websites

Duvar English

Rize Criminal Judgeship of Peace imposed an access ban on the website of the EngelliWeb project of the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD). In the EngelliWeb's site, the association has been announcing access bans imposed upon websites, online news articles, and social media posts.

The association on March 20 stated that "The EngelliWeb page of the Freedom of Expression Association, which contains more than 500 access ban announcements, was completely blocked from access with the decision of the Rize Criminal Judgeship of Peace dated March 20, on the grounds of violation of personal rights."

In November, another Turkish court blocked access to the Freedom of Expression Association's content announcing the blocking of access to news about mafia leader Sedat Peker's allegations about the Turkish government, and ruled to the removal of it.

After the earthquakes that hit southeastern Turkey in February, the government’s efforts to suppress opposition on social media have accelerated. After restricting social media networks such as Twitter on Feb. 8, the government also banned the popular website Ekşi Sözlük over growing criticism. On Feb. 23, a Turkish court banned several Kurdish websites, including publishers and news reporters.