Courts block access to hundreds of news pieces about Erdoğan's sons

Bilal Erdoğan (Photo: AA/File)

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Judges have recently blocked access to a total of 461 URL addresses primarily comprising news articles related to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's sons, according to a weekly report covering July 17-23 by Free Web Turkey, a group monitoring online censorship in Turkey.

The access restrictions were implemented based on three separate court orders issued by the same penal judgeship of peace, in response to requests made by Burak and Bilal Erdoğan.

Contract awarded to Bilal Erdoğan's friend

One of the court orders, issued on July 20, came at the request of Bilal Erdoğan, who sought the blocking of specific news articles. Among these were reports covering the controversial wind energy power plant tender in an archeological site, which had recently lost its protected status. The contract was awarded to a company associated with a friend of Bilal Erdoğan from high school.

Additionally, the court order also restricted access to news regarding the appointment of a trustee to companies allegedly linked to the "Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ)" an Islamic held responsible for the 2016 coup attempt. In total, 120 URLs were affected by this order, following approval from the İstanbul Anatolian 10th Penal Judgeship of Peace.

Reuters report on international corruption

The second court order, also on July 20, was at the behest of Bilal Erdoğan. This request aimed to block access to an international corruption report by Reuters, which had implicated him. The report garnered significant media attention, prompting Erdoğan's request for the blocking of not only the original Reuters article but also other news sources that cited it. Consequently, 282 pieces of content were restricted from access, as per an order by the İstanbul Anatolian 10th Penal Judgeship of Peace.

Killing of singer Sevim Tanürek

Burak Erdoğan, President Erdoğan's brother, followed suit and filed his request to block access to news articles discussing a car accident incident in 1998. Burak had been involved in the accident that resulted in the death of Sevim Tanürek, a TRT İstanbul Radio singer.

Despite being acquitted based on claims of "complete innocence," Erdoğan sought to restrict access to news coverage related to the incident. The court granted his request, leading to the restriction of 59 pieces of content. (EMK/HA/VK)