Access to Ekşi Sözlük blocked again

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The Ankara 5th Penal Judgeship of Peace today (March 3) blocked access to Ekşi Sözlük, one of the most popular websites in Türkiye.

A previous ban imposed on February 21 was lifted by the Ankara 4th Penal Judgeship of Peace yesterday.

Ekşi Sözlük, which translates as "Sour Dictionary," was founded in 1999 and is one of the most popular websites in Türkiye. Only approved users are allowed to post messages on the site, the number of which is over 100,000.

In an interview with bianet after the ban, Başak Purut, the platform's CEO, had said they would take legal action against the decision.

The ban came amid an intense public debate over last month's massive earthquakes while the reason for it was not disclosed.

The authorities had also restricted access to Twitter for nearly an entire day after the earthquakes that claimed over 45,000 lives in Türkiye's south and southeast.

Over 150 people were detained and 29 people were arrested across Türkiye because of their posts about the massive earthquakes on February 6, according to a statement from the police on February March 2. (ME/VK)