The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) said in its censorship bulletin for the week of 5-11 October 2026 that access blocks targeting social media accounts belonging to journalists, media organizations and rights defenders continued. At least 88 X accounts were blocked on the night of 5 October, at least 70 more in a second wave the same day, and at least 39 on 8 October. The blocked accounts included those of bianet, journalists İrfan Değirmenci, Şirin Payzın, Alican Uludağ, Dilek Zaptçıoğlu, Ayça Yılmaz, Sarya Toprak, Esra Tokat and Furkan Karabay, as well as numerous academics, lawyers and economic commentators. X also made Sky News reporter Alex Crawford’s account unavailable in Türkiye on 5 October. Ankara 1st Criminal Judgeship of Peace blocked access to the entire website of Mezopotamya Ajansı on 6 October, about half an hour after the agency removed a report. Istanbul 2nd Criminal Judgeship of Peace rejected T24’s appeal against its access block on 9 October. Bakırköy 1st Criminal Judgeship of Peace blocked three bianet reports on 11 October concerning TİP MP Ahmet Şık’s parliamentary questions about the fund crisis and allegations about Justice Minister Akın Gürlek. Most decisions cited protection of national security and public order under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651. Journalism organizations opposed blocking entire accounts and called for transparency and protection of press freedom.
12 October 2026
MLSA