Turkey's popular social network applies to top court against ban

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Ekşi Sözlük, a popular social networking site in Turkey, has applied to the Constitutional Court demanding a ban on the site be lifted.

The application was filed against the alleged violations of "freedom to express and disseminate opinion," "right to a fair trial" and "freedom of communication," the platform said in a Twitter statement on Saturday (March 25).

Since the ban on the site continues, the constitutional rights of millions of people are being violated, Ekşi Sözlük argued. It demands the high court rule for a retrial.

What happened?

Access to Ekşi Sözlük, which is frequently implicated by the pro-government media due to its users' posts against the government, was blocked on February 21.

On which posts the ban is based have not been disclosed. At the time when the ban was imposed, the massive earthquakes on February 6 were being widely discussed on the platform.

After an appeal by Ekşi Sözlük, the Ankara 4th Penal Judgeship of Peace lifted the ban on March 2. However, after an appeal against this decision, the Ankara 5th Penal Judgeship of Peace banned the site again a day later.

In response to the ban, Ekşi Sözlük had said, "We have never removed the content of any user because of their thoughts."

Founded in 1999, Ekşi Sözlük, "Sour Dictionary" for Turkish, is one of the most popular websites in Türkiye. Only approved users are allowed to post messages on the site, the number of which is over 100,000. (NT/VK)