Published : 02 Oct 2026, 12:02 AM
Updated : 02 Oct 2026, 12:02 AM
Turkey has blocked access to independent news portal T24 and its social media accounts after authorities accused the outlet of publishing 118 pieces of content deemed to constitute “LGBT propaganda”, prompting journalists to warn of growing restrictions on reporting.
The court order came as part of the government’s widening “My Family is Safe” investigation, which officials say is aimed at protecting children and family values. Rights groups and European officials have criticised the campaign and raised concerns over restrictions targeting LGBTQ+ organisations, activists and media outlets.
Yildiz Tar, editor-in-chief of LGBTQ+ news outlet Kaos GL, whose articles published by T24 were among those cited in the case, said the authorities’ characterisation of the reporting was unjustified.
“It creates the image that writing about LGBTQI people in an objective way is a crime, because all of the articles I wrote were objective,” Tar told Reuters.
Tar said the articles covered LGBTQ+ rights, hate killings and the experiences of LGBTQ+ people following the 2023 earthquake in Turkey.
“It’s not propaganda. It’s about basic journalism. It’s about reality,” he said.
‘State of Emergency’
Candan Yildiz, T24’s editor in charge, said the court order had expanded restrictions that began last month with operations targeting LGBTQ+ organisations and activists.
“We are really experiencing a digital state of emergency,” she told Reuters. “An authority is telling journalists: you can report these stories, but you cannot report those. This really undermines the foundations of our profession.”
T24’s lawyers were due to appeal the decision on Thursday, Yildiz said.
“Journalism cannot be shut down. We are doing our jobs,” she said.
Detentions
Dozens of people have been jailed pending trial as part of the investigation, while courts have also blocked websites and social media accounts belonging to LGBTQ+ groups, activists and media outlets.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has intensified his anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in recent years. Last month, he told the UN General Assembly that a trend of “global gender-neutralisation policies” could be countered by protecting the traditional family.
The European Union has expressed concern over the arrests and online restrictions and urged Turkey to uphold freedom of expression and media freedom.
The vast majority of Turkish media is seen as pro-government after years of state legal and financial pressure, corporate acquisitions and self-censorship.
