DİSK Basın-İş Reacts to Restrictions on X and Instagram Accounts

DİSK Basın-İş issued a harsh statement against the increasing access restrictions on the X and Instagram accounts of journalists, press organizations, academics, and civil society organizations, announcing that these practices undermine freedom of expression.

Reaction to Social Media Restrictions

DİSK Basın-İş stated that access restrictions targeting the social media accounts of journalists, press organizations, academics, trade unionists, and civil society organizations have become widespread recently.

Emphasizing that these practices undermine freedom of the press, expression, and association, the union issued a written statement regarding the access restrictions imposed on certain accounts on X and Instagram.

Emphasis on Constitutional Rights

The written statement clearly expressed that systematic censorship policies are strictly unacceptable.

It was recalled that the public's right to information, freedom of the press, and freedom of association are under constitutional guarantee in a democratic state governed by rule of law.

Blocked Institutions and Organizations

The statement noted that press outlets such as Kaos GL, Kısa Dalga, ANF, Jinnews, and Evrensel Newspaper were targeted.

Additionally, it was recorded that the accounts of Amnesty International Turkey, Peace Academics, and the Media and Law Studies Association were also blocked from access.

Justifications and Decisions

It was noted that the restrictions were carried out under the justification of protecting national security and public order, but most of the decisions were not served to the parties.

Touching upon the issues highlighted by Yaman Akdeniz, founder of the Freedom of Expression Association, the statement emphasized that the struggle against every form of censorship will be continued with determination.