On the morning of February 21, Turkey’s top public information website, EkşiSözlük, went offline.
That same morning, Elan Yurt, an Istanbul-based astrologer and freelancer, tried to visit the site to view discussions about the country’s presidential elections, but the page didn’t load. She initially attributed this to her cumbersome internet connection, but quickly remembered the pattern of mainstream media silence in the aftermath of tragic events in the country.
Two earthquakes had devastated southeastern Turkey in early February, exacerbating already existing economic challenges, and a political crisis in which a heavily divided opposition was challenging a dominant right-wing party. Amid the declining prospects, young people were leaving the country in a “brain drain.”
In this climate, EkşiSözlük had become a safe haven for people to express their opinions without fear of political repercussions. Its closure represents a dire threat to freedom of expression, especially in the context of the ongoing elections. And should President Erdogan and his party, the AKP, win, freedom of expression in an already abysmal press freedom environment, could be further threatened.
EkşiSözlük: "The source of sacred knowledge”
Founded in 1999 by Sedat Kapanoğlu, EkşiSözlük’s website is run by writers who tend to be left-wing, educated and secular.
The site has become known as “the source of sacred knowledge”: a platform where unique voices can express their opinions without fear of social consequences or imprisonment. It has been a valuable tool for citizens to access factual information outside of government propaganda.
EkşiSözlük and its writers have faced controversy, censorship, detentions and even arrests throughout its history. Up until the February earthquakes, however, the site had avoided being fully banned by the Turkish government.
Censorship in the earthquakes’ aftermath
Following the February earthquakes, access to social platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter has been broadly slowed, prompting criticism among the public. Meanwhile, Turkish authorities failed to clarify the communication issues. During the absence of coverage, more than 48,000 people lost their lives, and nearly 1 million people were displaced.
“It was mind-blowing to experience that silence,” said Yurt about the lack of information surrounding the earthquake. “You are sitting in a room and knowing that people are buried alive; nobody is reaching them for help. Not the government, not [a] soldier, no one.”
The state’s tendency to broadcast documentaries during times of crisis has also given birth to a new colloquial phrase, "I watched the penguins last night,” implying that there is nothing to watch on the news while there is a significant event taking place in the country – even during public emergencies with high numbers of casualties.
In the last few years, the importance of having a place for people to communicate with one another has become increasingly evident. With pro-government outlets and partisan media channels competing for public attention, it has become difficult to find accurate information online.
The sense of helplessness among suppressed voices in the country has been palpable since the Gezi Park Protests in 2013, and has seemed only to grow more entrenched with each passing day. At the same time, the Republican People's Party (CHP) and several opposition parties, which already have a small number of representatives, are having trouble finding a safe space to disseminate their message.
Deteriorating press freedom
Today, Turkey is rapidly declining in press freedom rankings, dropping to 165 out of 180 countries in the past year. EkşiSözlük closure holds significant relevance in light of this, as no other platform in the country serves as a cultural reference point, source of knowledge, and an example of a site taking a stance against attempts to limit free speech.
EkşiSözlük’ shuttering – and the lack of transparency around it – has added to the environment of dismay among dissidents in the country. Many have left Turkey, and those who have stayed have seen their political power severely weakened.
State censorship has only become more powerful with the enactment of what's known as the censorship law, which allows the state to close news sites and slow down social media without justification. EkşiSözlük now joins many other sites that have been closed for months through this law.
The ongoing presidential elections
While economic downturn and perceptions of government mishandling of the February earthquakes have affected the AKP’s performance in the presidential elections, the party also overperformed expectations in the first round of voting. The AKP received 36% of votes, which is similar to its performance in the 2002 elections when it first came to power.
The Republican People's Party (CHP), which has promised to return Turkey to a parliamentary system, followed with 25% of votes. Since no candidate received more than 50% of votes, a second round will be conducted on Sunday, May 28.
As of this article being published, EkşiSözlük is still banned, demonstrating the ongoing struggle for free expression in the country.
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