The Ministry of the Interior announced that 220 people were detained due to their social media posts on the Coronavirus. According to the ministry statement, 3,576 social media accounts claiming to have made “provocative Coronavirus” posts on social media within the last three weeks were examined and legal actions were taken against 616 social media users. 229 people were detained so far and the judicial process on the other suspects continue. According to the Ministry, the related social media posts stating that the government is not taking necessary/sufficient precautions and that the matter is being kept hidden from the public are made in order to “incite the people into fear, panic and worry; and targeting official/responsible organizations and individuals in the eye of the public.”
07.04.2020
bianet.org