'How many news articles have been banned by fake court orders?'

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Court orders issued to two news portals for the removal of several news articles have been revealed to be fake.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Utku Çakırözer has submitted a parliamentary question about the issue to Minister of justice Abdülhamit Gül.

"As if blackouts and advertisement embargoes on the press were not enough, now we have fake court orders. What has been done is both irregular and prevents the public's right to information," he said. "What will happen with these fake court orders? What is being waited for to open an investigation?"

Prof. Yaman Akdeniz from the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD) revealed on Friday (September 10) that two court orders issued to Gazete Duvar and Diken news portals in July and September, respectively, had the same number.

According to the fake documents, the orders were issued by the Bakırköy 2nd Penal Judgeship, but the judge whose name is written in the documents is in charge of the Gaziosmanpaşa Penal Judgeship, he noted.

CLICK - BİA Media Monitoring Database reports

Gazete Duvar filed a criminal complaint for forgery of official documents but prosecutors dismissed the complaint because "a non-existent document cannot be faked."

MP Çakırözer asked the minister whether the claims were true and whether the authorities were investigations the claims.

He asked whether the ministry will object to the decision of the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office,

He further whether asked how many fake orders had been sent to news outlets and who was behind them will be found.

According to the İFÖD, courts ruled for the blocking or removal of 4,620 news articles in 2020. (DŞ/VK)