Judges' objection to Instagram ban

The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) issued a blocking order against Instagram, citing catalog crimes as the justification. 

Catalog crimes are listed as “incitement to suicide, sexual abuse of children, facilitating the use of drugs and stimulants, supply of substances dangerous to health, obscenity, prostitution, providing a place and opportunity for gambling, and crimes covered under Law No. 5816 on Crimes Committed Against Atatürk.”

The Judges' Union, composed of serving judges and prosecutors, has issued a statement regarding Instagram, which has been blocked in Turkey since August 2. 

In its written statement, the Judges' Union emphasized regarding the Instagram ban: “These autocratic practices, which are incompatible with democracy and universal legal principles, must be abandoned immediately.” 

The statement is as follows: 

“The right to access the internet is a form of freedom of expression and communication for all people. In this context, the right to 'equal access to all content providers without discrimination' is also the fundamental basis of freedom of communication for individuals and society. All restrictions in this area are unlawful.

The aforementioned restriction cannot be explained by security arguments in any way. These autocratic practices, which are incompatible with democracy and universal legal principles, must be abandoned immediately.”

News Source: 12punto