Access block to GaBiLe LGBTI+ dating and chat site: ‘This is censorship’

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An access block has been imposed on gabile.com, a LGBTI+ dating and chat site sharing news and articles about the LGBTI+ community.

The Ankara 7th Penal Judgeship of Peace has ordered an access block with its decision dated September 10, 2020.

As announced by the Engelli Web (Blocked Web) project of the Freedom of Expression Association (İÖD), the judgeship has blocked access to gabile.com with its decision no. 2020/5858.

'GaBiLe is one of the oldest dating sites'

Yıldız Tar, the editor of Ankara-based LGBTI+ Association Kaos GL, has spoken to bianet about the issue.

"We do not know for what reason an access block has been imposed on GaBiLe. We have not yet been able to access the court ruling," Tar has indicated.

Raising concerns that the recent period has witnessed a large number of access blocks imposed on websites and social platforms producing LGBTI+related content, Tar has shared the following information:

"Before GaBiLe, the website of Hornet, a LGBTI+ dating and meeting application, was blocked access last month. An access block has been imposed on GaBiLe now.

"GaBiLe is one of the oldest dating and meeting websites of Turkey. It was opened in 1999 and it was faced with a block in 2009 before that.

"An access block was imposed on the website by the decision of the Telecommunications Communication Presidency (TİB). This block was lifted after the website administration filed a lawsuit."

'This is censorship'

Tar has stressed that with this recent access block, thousands of people are now prevented from accessing a platform where they use, meet and come to know one another. "This clearly means the prevention of freedom of expression. And this is also censorship," Tar has protested, briefly adding:

"This is not only about blocking access to a website. While there have already been serious obstacles in the way of LGBTI+s to find and reach one another and to participate in social life, such platform gain extra importance.

"So, beyond being a website where you read something and obtain information, we are talking about a website where you can ease your loneliness, talk to people like you, meet and make friends with them. It is particularly problematic considering that it is done during the pandemic.

'Block will aggravate feelings of loneliness'

"The studies and reports of both ours and other LGBTI+ associations during the coronavirus period have shown this: The violations in the fields of healthcare and work life aside, being confined to home is something that has aggravated both violence and feelings of loneliness.

"Several LGBTI+s have had to go back to their families' homes during the pandemic and if they are not open, these places have turned into somewhere where they have got loneliner.

"Therefore, while isolation has already become an even more difficult process for LGBTI+s and while the platforms where you can do away with this isolation, even a little bit, are so limited, the access block to one of these platforms will aggravate this feeling of loneliness even further.

"We hope that a step will be taken back from this access block imposed by the court and the website is opened to access again."

Hornet and Grindr blocked as well

When one tries to access gabile.com in Turkey, the following warning appears on the screen: "The protections measure has been taken for this website (gabile.com) according to decision nr. 2020/5858 D.İş dated 10/09/2020 of 'Ankara 7th Penal Judgeship of Peace' has been implemented by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority."

Hornet, another dating app, was also blocked access by the decision of the Ankara 8th Penal Judgeship of Peace dated August 6, 2020.

Since 2013, it has also not been possible to access Grindr in Turkey. (SO/SD)