Turkey Cracks Down on Social Media: Journalist Faces Trial, X Accounts Blocked

Turkey Cracks Down on Social Media: Journalist Faces Trial, X Accounts Blocked

Turkish prosecutors are targeting journalists and media outlets over their social media activity, filing new charges and blocking accounts as courts schedule hearings years into the future.

· 1 min read ·
turkeyhuman rights

Turkish prosecutors have filed a new lawsuit against Öznur Değer, news director of JINNEWS, a Kurdish news agency, accusing her of spreading propaganda for the PKK, a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its allies [253161]. The case is based on posts she shared from her X account, which has since been blocked in Turkey [253161]. The first court hearing is scheduled for January 19, 2027 [253161].

Separately, Turkey has blocked access to the X account of Kısa Dalga, a media outlet run by journalists and academics [251108]. The account is now unavailable to users in Turkey, and Kısa Dalga said its publications will continue from a new address, @kisadalgamedia [251108].

The crackdown extends beyond media. A Turkish research center, SAMER, examined public reaction to the "My Family Is Safe" operations, reviewing 1,300 posts on X [253147]. The analysis found opinions split along five main themes: family, security, violence, the economy, and private life, with supporters and critics disagreeing sharply on these issues [253147].

Sources

Turkish journalist faces trial over social media posts #253161Kısa Dalga X account blocked in Turkey #251108Turkey's "My Family Is Safe" Crackdown: 1,300 Posts Analyzed—Who Is Actually Protected? #253147

Related

Turkey Blocks 21 X Accounts in 'National Security' Crackdown, Including Municipality Fact-Check Post

A Turkish court has blocked access to at least 21 X accounts, citing "national security," in a move critics call censorship of political dissent.

Turkey Locks Up 19.5 Years for Activist, Jails NATO Protesters, Crushes Dissent—But the Money Trail Points to Erdogan’s Asset Protection

Turkish authorities handed down a 19.5-year sentence to women’s rights activist Ayşe Gökkan and jailed two NATO summit protesters, while a court refused to reduce an LGBT+ activist’s sentence citing “negative personality traits.” These moves are not about ideology—they are about protecting President Erdogan’s political and financial grip by eliminating opposition that threatens his regime’s stability and donor networks.

Turkey Detains 2 Journalists in 2 Months Over ‘Insult’ Charges; 119 Others Held in IS Sweep

Turkish authorities have arrested a journalist for sharing a colleague’s pre-arrest social media post, while a Deutsche Welle correspondent has been re-detained on charges of insulting the president, as part of a broader crackdown that also saw 119 suspected Islamic State members rounded up nationwide.

Turkey Cracks Down on Dissent: Comedians, Activists, and Sick Prisoners Face Courts as 29 Cases Clear African Human Rights Body

Turkish authorities are escalating arrests and prosecutions of activists, comedians, and social media users while rights groups protest the detention of seriously ill prisoners and LGBT+ advocates. Meanwhile, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights has completed 29 legal matters, signaling continental accountability efforts.

Turkey to Lock Up Kids as Young as 15 for Life Under New Bill

Turkey’s ruling party has proposed a law that would allow courts to sentence children aged 15 to 18 to life or aggravated life imprisonment for certain crimes, sparking fierce debate over juvenile justice.

Meta on Trial: Feds Seek Shake-Up as Judge Weighs Breakup, Teen Safety, and Instagram’s Future

A landmark U.S. court case against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, could force the tech giant to change its algorithms, add stricter age checks, or even break up its business, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accuses the company of harming children and dominating the social media market.