Turkish court bans independent news outlet T24 over 118 LGBTQ+ articles
Istanbul's 1st Criminal Court of Peace ordered an access ban on independent news outlet T24 on 30 September 2026, citing 118 articles deemed LGBTQ+ propaganda under a wider state investigation.
Court order and ministry accusations
On 30 September 2026, Istanbul's 1st Criminal Court of Peace issued an order blocking access to the website and social media accounts of independent Turkish news portal T24. The Turkish Justice Ministry announced that the decision was forwarded to the Cyber Security Presidency for implementation. According to the ministry statement, monitoring by authorities identified 118 articles and media posts published by T24 over the past year that allegedly constituted LGBTQ+ propaganda. The ministry asserted that these publications aimed to weaken the Turkish family structure and negatively influence the development of youth regarding sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Police launch 'My Family is Safe' operation with raids across Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir.
- Istanbul court orders access ban on T24 website and social media accounts over 118 articles.
- Engelliweb records access blocks against at least 147 X accounts in a single day.
Scope of the 'My Family is Safe' campaign
The ban on T24 represents an expansion of a state-led investigation titled 'My Family is Safe' (Ailem Güvende). Turkish police launched the operation on 12 September 2026, conducting raids on LGBTQ+ community centres, bars, and clubs, which led to dozens of detentions across Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir. Prosecutors brought charges including obscenity against detained activists. The campaign subsequently broadened to target online speech, resulting in access blocks against rights groups, including the Turkish branch of Amnesty International. Internet monitoring group Engelliweb reported that authorities blocked at least 147 X accounts on 30 September 2026 alone, extending to journalists and financial analysts who commented on a domestic stock market scandal.
Editorial response and opposition reaction
Founded in 2009, T24 has operated as one of Turkey's primary independent online publications, maintaining an X account with approximately 2 million followers. Editor-in-Chief Gökçer Tahincioğlu stated that the blocking order followed a coordinated smear campaign across social platforms accusing the outlet of foreign funding and anti-family bias. The editorial staff confirmed receiving the closure order via email on Wednesday evening and announced intentions to appeal the decision once officially processed.
Opposition politicians strongly criticized the judicial order. Özgür Özel, leader of the opposition Yeni Parti, cited constitutional protections guaranteeing media freedom.
In a country whose constitution states, 'The press is free and shall not be censored', the door of a publishing organisation from which millions receive news is locked by a criminal court decision on trivial grounds.
DEM Party spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan also condemned the court's intervention in a public statement.
Democracy is strengthened not only where what we want to hear is spoken, but where diverse and critical voices are free. Censorship practices targeting journalists, writers, and media organisations must now come to an end.
Press freedom context and international response
A coalition of 13 journalism professional organisations released a joint statement calling the ruling an attack on the profession, arguing that the 'My Family is Safe' operation had targeted freedom of expression from the beginning. Turkey ranks 163rd out of 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. The European Union and Human Rights Watch both called on Turkish authorities to halt the targeting of independent media and uphold freedom of expression.
