17/07/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
DEM Party MP Sevilay Çelenk has submitted a parliamentary inquiry regarding freedom of the press and expression, referencing the access ban on KaosGL.org.
Sevilay Çelenk, MP for the DEM Party representing Diyarbakır and a member of the Grand National Assembly’s Digital Platforms Commission, has raised the issue of access bans against KaosGL.org and other independent media outlets in Parliament. Stating that press and expression freedoms are under serious threat, Çelenk submitted a motion for a parliamentary inquiry.
Kaos GL, Jinnews, and Mezopotamya Agency targeted
In her motion, Çelenk drew attention to the increasingly systematic nature of access bans and emphasized that the targeting of LGBTI+ focused news portals like Kaos GL constitutes a direct violation of freedom of expression:
"The social media accounts of independent media outlets such as Mezopotamya Agency, JINNEWS, Yeni Yaşam, and KaosGL have been blocked by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK). The government is targeting not only publications but also journalists. Through threats and smear campaigns on social media, freedom of expression is being systematically suppressed."
Journalism portrayed as a crime
Referring to data from the Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) and the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association, Çelenk noted that journalists have become direct targets. She reported that 29 journalists have been arrested in the past year, and hundreds more have been subjected to investigations.
Çelenk also detailed the pressure imposed by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), stating that the heavy fines and broadcast bans imposed on critical outlets demonstrate the restrictions on freedom of expression.
The motion also included criticism of the Press Advertisement Agency’s arbitrary decisions to cut public ads and cancel press credentials, highlighting the economic pressure these actions place especially on independent media outlets.
Çelenk emphasized that women journalists face economic insecurity, excessive workloads, and gender-based violence in the media sector. According to the TGS Women Journalists Commission, 77% of women journalists do not receive overtime pay.
A call for social peace
At the conclusion of her motion, Çelenk stressed that press and expression freedoms are not only essential for journalists but for society as a whole:
“Freedom of the press and expression is the shared guarantee of the entire society, not just journalists. In these days when the hope for social peace is blossoming, the most vital step toward making that hope a reality is removing all barriers to press and expression freedoms.”
Tags: human rights, media
