Turkey's justice ministry announced on Wednesday that a court had shut down the website and social media accounts of T24, a prominent independent digital news site. The ministry cited the production of 118 pieces of content constituting 'LGBT propaganda' over the past year as the reason for the closure. This move comes several weeks after authorities launched a major crackdown on the LGBTQ community.
The crackdown on the LGBTQ community has been led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has described it as a 'deviant movement' of 'perverts'. The 'My Family is Safe' investigation, which led to the closure of T24, targeted 162 people and raided gay bars, nightclubs, and the homes of activists and community members. The LGBTQ community in Turkey has increasingly come under pressure from the authorities.
T24's foreign news desk editor, Buse Sogutlu, confirmed the closure, stating that the website is now blocked in Turkey. She mentioned that the site had been subjected to a 'social media harassment campaign in recent days'. Sogutlu described the closure as a blow by the authorities 'against pure journalism', going beyond T24's coverage of LGBTQ issues.
The closure of T24 drew sharp condemnation from 12 Turkish journalists' associations, who described it as 'a grave attack on our profession'. They called for the decision to be reversed immediately, citing it as a serious violation of the government's obligations regarding press and freedom of expression. The associations also stated that the closure directly obstructs citizens' right to receive news.
The 'My Family Is Safe' operation, cited as the justification for the closure, has targeted press and freedom of expression from the very first day. One of those arrested in the crackdown was a journalist who is still behind bars. Prominent LGBTQ activists have told AFP that the operation is 'the start of the election campaign', with Turkish officials confirming the country would hold an early election in April 2028.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek stated that the 'My Family is Safe' operation was launched as part of Erdogan's 'Decade of the Family', aimed at 'protecting our children, the institution of the family and social order'. The operation has been used to justify a crackdown on LGBTQ rights and freedoms in Turkey.
The shutdown of T24 has raised concerns about press freedom and human rights in Turkey. The country has seen increased pressure on the LGBTQ community, with the authorities using investigations and closures to limit rights and freedoms.
Key points
- Turkey's justice ministry shut down T24, a leading independent digital news site, citing 'LGBT propaganda'.
- The closure is part of a larger crackdown on the LGBTQ community in Turkey, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
- The move has drawn condemnation from Turkish journalists' associations, who cite a serious violation of press and freedom of expression.
