Kurdish outlets, LGBTI+ association face Instagram ban; Evrensel attacker arrested; T24 reporter probed over sexual abuse story 

Instagram suspends three Kurdish media outlets’ accounts 

Access to the Instagram accounts of three major Kurdish outlets –Yeni Yaşam newspaper (published in Turkish), the news agency Ajansa Welat, and the Kurdish-language newspaper Xwebûn– was suspended on 16 August following an order by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK). 

Both Yeni Yaşam and Ajansa Welat noted that this was the second blocking order issued against their Instagram accounts. In its statement, Yeni Yaşam said the BTK justified the decision by claiming that “the account and its content were linked to dangerous people and organizations.” 

All three outlets have since opened backup accounts to continue publishing their content. 

Perpetrator of armed attack on Evrensel newspaper imprisoned pending trial 

The perpetrator of the armed attack on Evrensel newspaper’s office in the coastal city of İzmir was imopr pending trial, the daily reported on 18 August. 

The attack took place late at night on 12 August, when the office was empty. The assailant fired several shots at the building, leaving bullet holes in the door and the newspaper’s sign. 

Initially, it was reported that the attacker, identified as İsa Can Biler, had been released a day after being taken into custody. Evrensel later stated that prosecutors had blocked its lawyers from accessing the case files. Once the lawyers were able to review the documents, they found that an arrest warrant had in fact been issued against Biler. 

The perpetrator denied harboring any hostility toward the newspaper and claimed he was unaware that the building he fired upon was its office. İzmir’s 2nd Peace Court charged him with “armed threat” and “possession of an unlicensed firearm.” Another individual who drove Biler to the scene is also under investigation. 

T24 reporter investigated over coverage of psychologist accused of abusing LGBTI+ teenagers 

T24 reporter Can Öztürk is under investigation on charges of “defamation” and “openly spreading misleading information” following an article that examined allegations of sexual abuse against a prominent psychologist and former academic. 

The article presented a series of testimonies describing numerous cases of abuse allegedly perpetrated by psychologist Ahmet Akın, a professor and former head of the Department of Education at Istanbul Medeniyet University, targeting teenagers and young people questioning their sexual identity and orientation, including minors. 

Testimonies collected by Öztürk included accounts from young people sent to Akın by their parents after coming out as homosexual, as well as youth experiencing gender dysphoria. Akın openly 63+admitted to offering so-called “correction” sessions based on the belief that homosexuality could be reversed through therapy. 

The article, published on 4 March 2025, caused public uproar and led to Akın’s suspension from Istanbul Medeniyet University following an internal investigation. 

According to T24, as reported on 18 August, Akın’s lawyers have since filed a complaint against Öztürk, rejecting the allegations of sexual and psychological abuse documented in his reporting. An investigation has now been launched into the journalist.  

Instagram blocks access to prominent LGBTI+ association Kaos GL’s account 

Access to the Instagram account of Kaos GL, one of Turkey’s leading LGBTI+ associations, has been blocked. The association announced on 19 August that its account could no longer be accessed from Turkey following an access ban order, which Instagram subsequently implemented. 

Earlier, Kaos GL’s X (formerly Twitter) account had been suspended on 24 June by a ruling of the Istanbul 9th Peace Court. Three days later, on 27 June, the Istanbul 12th Peace Court also imposed an access ban on the association’s website. 

Kaos GL serves not only as a major source of solidarity within the LGBTI+ community but also as an important outlet for news and information on issues affecting LGBTI+ people. The association stated that it is pursuing legal avenues to challenge the bans and, in the meantime, continues to publish through its backup account @kaosglhaber. 

Etkin News Agency’s X account suspended 

X (formerly Twitter) has suspended the account of Etkin News Agency (ETHA) for the fifth time following a court ruling, the agency announced on 19 August. Access to ETHA’s website has also been blocked on multiple occasions and remains unavailable in Turkey. 

The agency stated it is continuing to use X through its backup account @etkinhbrajansi3. 

Journalist Metin Yoksu summoned to testify over 2023 articles 

Metin Yoksu, a journalist based in the southeastern province of Batman who reports for several media outlets, has been summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office to testify regarding articles he published in 2023. 

In a statement on his X account on 22 August, Yoksu said the summons did not specify which articles he would be questioned about. The journalist had previously spent more than a month in pre-trial detention before being released on 25 July, as part of an investigation launched in the Black Sea province of Artvin. 

At least 32 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 22 August 2025, there are at least 32 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either in pre-trial detention or serving a finalized sentence.

The full list can be accessed here.