03/07/2026 | Writer: Kaos GL
The court order blocking access to the X and Instagram accounts of associations and platforms sharing LGBTI+ rights content has been obtained. The ruling cites the Istanbul Police's “cyber patrol” activities and investigations carried out “to protect the family and children” as the grounds for the decision.
The grounds for the access-blocking order targeting the X and Instagram accounts of associations and platforms sharing content on LGBTI+ rights have been revealed.
According to the decision, the request to block access was prepared as part of “cyber patrol” activities conducted by the Cybercrime Department of the Istanbul Police Directorate. The document states that these activities were carried out “to take preventive and protective measures concerning the indivisible integrity of the state with its territory and nation, the constitutional order and public security, to ensure public order and safety, and to combat cybercrime.”
The ruling was issued by the 6th Criminal Judgeship of Peace in Istanbul. According to the decision, various X and Instagram accounts were examined as part of efforts “to protect the family and children” on the internet and social media platforms. The court ordered the accounts to be blocked and their content removed, claiming they “could negatively affect public order, the family structure, the protection of children, and public morality.”
The court based its ruling on Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 on the Regulation of Publications on the Internet and Combating Crimes Committed Through Such Publications. The decision cited the provision stating that “content shall be removed and/or access blocked where there are sufficient grounds to suspect that online publications constitute the following crimes.”
“Cyber patrol” powers were struck down by the Constitutional Court
The authority granting police officers the power to conduct “cyber patrol” activities was introduced in 2017 through an amendment to Law No. 2559 on the Duties and Powers of the Police. The amendment authorized police to access the identity information of internet subscribers and conduct online investigations in order to identify the competent Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in cases involving crimes committed online.
However, the provision was challenged before the Constitutional Court on the grounds that it violated the Constitution. In its decision dated 19 February 2020, the Constitutional Court annulled the provision, ruling that allowing police to conduct general “cyber patrol” activities on the internet was unconstitutional.
In its judgment, the Court emphasized that the regulation was incompatible with the requirements of a democratic society, that personal data is protected under the Constitution, and that police may only conduct investigations into specific individuals upon the instruction of a public prosecutor.
The following accounts were blocked: Istanbul Pride, Istanbul Trans Pride / Trans Pride Istanbul, Lambda Istanbul, Hevi LGBTI+, LGBTIQ Assembly, TİP LGBTI, HDK LGBTI, Trans Yaşam (Trans Life), ODTÜ LGBTI+, Beşiktaş Lubunya, Sancaktepe Lubun, HDK Istanbul, Human Rights Association (İHD) LGBTI+ Commission, Human Rights Association (İHD) Headquarters, March 8 Lubunya Bloc, 17 May Association, Ankara Feminist Night March, Ankara Women, Pride Ankara / Ankara Pride, Queer AYBÜ, Pembe Hayat LGBTI+, SPoD, Women for Women's Human Rights, Association for the Struggle Against Sexual Violence, Terapi Grubu (Therapy Group), LGBTI Health, GZone Magazine, LISTAG Association, LGBTI+ for Peace, Kadın4Oyama, Yeditepe 7 Renk (Seven Colors), Hormon Hakkım (My Hormone Right) Collective, Pride İzmit, MEF LGBTIQ+, ÜniKuir, GoFor, Turkish LGBT Community, Young LGBTI+, Velvele, Özgür Renkler (Free Colors), Muamma LGBTI+, Mor Dayanışma (Purple Solidarity), Biz LGBTIQ Initiative, Hebûn LGBT, Mersin UFK, Adana LGBTI, Mor Çatı Foundation (Purple Roof Foundation), March 8 March, Feminist Health, Güldünya Books, TGS Women & LGBTI+, November 25 Women, İzmir Pride, LGBT Türkiye, Youth LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBT Postu, Çatlak Zemin (Cracked Ground), LGBTQ Rights Human Rights, Femin Amfi, GALA Association, Lavender LGBTIQ, Queer Owl, LeGeBİT, Anatolian LGBTI+, Denizli LGBTI Families, LGBTI in Prison, June 18 LGBTI, Trans Bloc, Bodrum LGBTI, Bodrum Women, Queer Deer, Erktolia, Sugar Mekanlar (Sugar Spaces), Positive Solidarity, Lubunya Earthquake, Access to Hormones, Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association, What Happened to Arya?, Queer Medical Student, Colors of Resistance, Demir Leblebi (Iron Chickpea), ODTÜ FemDay, Sara Collective, December Feminist, Beytepe Newspaper, Arkadaş Postası (Friends' Post), Student Activity, Oyunbozan Fanzine, Istanbul University Equality Community, Kuiranka, Renkli Güvercin LGBTIQ (Colorful Pigeon LGBTIQ), and Kuşadası LGBT. |
Tags: human rights, media, life
