Article author:
Reuters
Ankara — Turkey's RTUK Media Watchdog has blocked access to the US-based Voice of America and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle because it did not apply for the required license, Watchdog members said. Said on Thursday.
In February, Deutsche Welle and Voice of America (VOA) stated that they would not apply for a license in Turkey at the request of RTUK under Turkish media regulation law.
Ilhan Tasci, a member of the RTUK board of the main opposition CHP, said on Twitter that access to Deutsche Welle's Turkish services, DW Turkce, and VOA was blocked by a court decision. ..
"Access to DWTurkce and Voice of America that did not apply for a license was blocked by the Ankara Criminal Court at the request of the RTUK Board of Directors," Tasci said.
"Freedom of the press and a high degree of democracy are here!" He added.
The majority of Turkey's mainstream media is considered close to the government, with reports supporting President Tayyip Erdogan and his allies. Turks are increasingly relying on alternative outlets, some foreign affiliates, and social media for news.
RTUK, whose policy-making committee is dominated by Erdogan's AK party and its allies, often fines broadcasters who are critical of the government.
Discussions on the media bill, called the "censorship bill" by critics, have been postponed until Congress resumes in the fall, AKP vice-member Mahir Unal said this week.
Turkey is also one of the world's top prison officers for journalists and has been frequently criticized by Western allies and rights groups for its human rights records. They also accused the Erdogan government of using the failed military coup in 2016 as an excuse for dissenting the muzzle.
The government denies this and says that the seriousness of the threat facing Turkey requires action to be taken. (Report by Tuvan Gumrukcu, edited by Matthew Lewis in Ankara)
