The Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) released its “September Report on Human Rights Violations Against Journalists.”
According to the report, 10 journalists were detained in September, one journalist was imprisoned, 19 were subjected to investigations and 22 faced lawsuits.
The report stated that access to 49 social media accounts and 30 news articles was blocked, and 6 websites were shut down.
According to the DFG report, there has been a significant increase in access restriction decisions issued by the BTK (Information and Communication Technologies Authority) through the criminal courts of peace.
The report stated that social media access was restricted for 21 hours on the day the CHP Istanbul provincial administration was placed under a trustee and the building was occupied by the police. In addition, investigations were launched into 36 accounts on the same day and 10 people were taken into custody.
The report also drew attention to the media blackout imposed after the attack on the police headquarters in Izmir and the blocking of news about the Climate Law and Cengiz Holding on the grounds of “national security.”
Throughout September, access restrictions were imposed on journalists’ social media accounts, news sites, and documentaries, with media outlets such as Yeni Yaşam, ETHA, and ANF being particularly targeted.
DFG denounced increasing censorship and pressure, stating, “At a time when democratization in Turkey is frequently discussed, attacks on press freedom have not decreased; on the contrary, they have increased. We reiterate once again: the approach to press freedom is the approach to democracy. For Turkey’s democratization, obstacles to press freedom must be removed, and unlawful access restrictions must end.”