Access block to bianet’s news on access block to news

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The Met-Gün Construction company, the asphalt company of the previous term, seized the 565-million-lira loan of the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality to collect its outstanding debt in August 2020.

The İstanbul 3rd Penal Judgeship of Peace imposed an access block on the news about this seizure on September 7, 2020. Imposed on the grounds of "violation of personal rights," the related access block affected the news reports published by Gerçek Gündem, KRT and SoL Haber.

Having reported on this censorship, bianet's news report on the access block has been faced with an access block 13 months later.

Upon the request of Met-Gün Construction firm's owner Metin Güneş, the İstanbul 3rd Penal Judgeship of Peace has imposed an access block on the Turkish version of the bianet news "Court blocks access to news on seizure of İstanbul Municipality's non-seizable loan."

According to the related decision of the penal judgeship, "when the news content faced with a request for an access block is examined, it is understood that it contains content that attacks people and institutions in such a way to fall outside the scope of the press' freedom of expression on the Internet, tarnishes dignity and honor and violates personal rights."

Accordingly, the judgeship has found the request "in compliance with the law and due procedure of law" and imposed the access block.

What was the news about?

Undertaking the asphalt works for the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İMM) during the term of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Met-Gün Construction company took action in July 2020 to collect its outstanding debts. Having a receiving order issued, the company sent this order to the banks that work with the İMM.

As first reported by daily Hürriyet, the loan of 565 million TRY received from abroad to continue a suspended subway project was seized and the money was transferred to the bank account of the company. The money was at first in foreign exchange; however, before being seized, it was converted into TRY without permission. The İMM has then terminated its contracts with the state bank Vakıfbank, which approved the seizure procedure.

After it was reported in the news that the procedure of seizure was unlawful, daily Hürriyet has removed the news report regarding the issue from its website. An access block was imposed on the content of the news outlets that reported on the incident. (HA/SD)