DİSK Basın-İş Reacts to Access Restrictions on Institutional Social Media Accounts

DİSK Basın-İş announced that the access restrictions imposed on the social media accounts of numerous institutions, including Evrensel Newspaper, Amnesty International Turkey, Academics for Peace, and MLSA, target freedom of expression and association.

Access Restriction on Social Media Accounts

In a written statement issued by DİSK Basın-İş, it was reported that in recent days, the X and Instagram accounts of institutions such as Evrensel Newspaper, Amnesty International Turkey, Academics for Peace, and the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) have been blocked from access within Turkey.

Restrictions Targeting LGBTİ+ Communities

The statement recalled that following the access restrictions that began on September 12 against LGBTİ+ associations, organizations, and activists, 32 X accounts, including those of numerous university LGBTİ+ communities, were blocked on September 13.

Institutionalization of Censorship Practices

It was stated that the blocking of access from Turkey by the X platform to the social media accounts of civil society and media organizations operating in various fields points to an institutionalized dimension of censorship practices.

Direct Attack on Democracy

Expressing that rendering these accounts invisible presents an image of arbitrary and uncontrolled intervention, it was noted that silencing civil society organizations and independent media outlets constitutes an attack on the foundational pillars of pluralistic democracy.

Call for the Revocation of the Decision

DİSK Basın-İş demanded that the X platform immediately reverse this decision, lift the access restrictions, and provide a transparent justification regarding the censorship practices; it also invited authorized public institutions to conduct an investigation.