Turkey is the country with the fastest decline in internet freedom, according to Gürkan Özturan, the rapporteur for Turkey.
The report here
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has decided to wait for Osman Kavala’s release before imposing sanctions on Turkey; it has also extended the time given to the government about Demirtaş till September 30.
In Turkey, religious cleric joins calls to censor social media
Turkish Penal Code Article 216 already prosecutes critics of Islamic values
Originally published on Global Voices
Turkey’s digital freedoms are under threat after Ali Erbas, the head of the Religious Affairs Directorate in Turkey, suggested that citizens’ social media usage should be controlled to align with Islamic values. After Turkey’s opposition parties and bar associations criticized the leading government for mixing religion and law, Erbas fanned the flames by suggesting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tighten the government’s control of social media — a move that aligns with Erdoğan’s previous policy positions.
In two weeks, new investigations were opened against five journalists, one journalist was attacked, and a reporter was prevented from covering a demonstration by the police.
Human rights defenders who oppose arbitrary restrictions of rights and freedoms have faced detentions, arrests, torture and investigations, says the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey.
Discover more from Erkan's Field Diary
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.