A Turkish court has ordered a ban on the website and social media accounts of the independent news portal T24, citing content deemed "LGBT propaganda." The decision, part of a broader investigation into LGBTQ+ groups, has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and European officials.
The court-ordered ban on T24, a prominent independent news outlet, highlights ongoing concerns about freedom of expression and media freedom in Turkey, particularly in relation to LGBTQ+ issues and government investigations.
A Turkish court has ordered an access ban on the website and social media accounts of the independent news portal T24, citing content deemed "LGBT propaganda." The decision was announced by the Justice Ministry on Wednesday.
The Istanbul's 1st Criminal Court of Peace ordered the blocking after authorities identified 118 pieces of content produced by T24 over the past year as constituting "LGBT propaganda." The order has been sent to Turkey's Cyber Security Presidency for implementation.
T24 has stated that it has not yet received official notification of the ban and intends to appeal once it does. This action is part of a broader investigation targeting LGBTQ+ groups in Turkey, which the government refers to as "My Family is Safe," asserting its aim is to protect children and family values.
Turkish authorities have previously blocked websites and social media accounts belonging to LGBTQ+ associations, activists, and independent media outlets as part of this investigation, including the X account of Amnesty International's Turkey branch.
The crackdown has faced criticism from rights groups and European officials. The European Union has expressed concern over the arrests and website blocks, urging Ankara to uphold freedom of expression and media freedom. Human Rights Watch has described the crackdown as a threat to fundamental rights and the rule of law, calling for an end to the targeting of LGBTQ+ groups and activists.
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