Court bans access to tweets on kidnapping cases in Turkey

A Turkish court has banned access to the MedyaBold news outlet’s tweets about kidnapping cases in Turkey, which are allegedly being carried out by the country’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT), MedyaBold reported on Thursday.

There have been many abduction cases in Turkey since a July 15, 2016 failed coup, targeting supporters of the faith-based Gülen movement. The government holds the movement responsible for the abortive putsch and has cracked down on its real and alleged followers. The movement strongly denies any involvement in the attempt.

An Ankara court, based on a demand from the presidency’s Security Affairs Directorate, banned access to 253 MedyaBold tweets in a ruling on Feb.21 due to national security concerns. The tweets focus on the website’s stories about kidnapping cases in Turkey.

Nothing has been heard for month from many people who were kidnapped in black transporter vans by unknown individuals. The families of the kidnapped, who are unable to get any information on the whereabouts of their loved ones from state authorities, are desperately calling for help on social media.

According to data compiled by the Stockholm Center for Freedom (SCF), 26 people have been abducted in Turkey since the controversial coup attempt in July 2016. Mysterious disappearances involving already-victimized opposition groups have become a common occurrence in Turkey in the aftermath of the abortive putsch. (SCF with turkishminute.com)

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from SCF