On Monday (23 January), access to the website of the Armenian Agos newspaper was temporarily denied at all schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education (MEB). Students who tried to access the site encountered the message, "The Turkish Telecom blocked access to this site upon the request of the MEB because of objectionable contents".

Later that day, the Turkish Telecom made an announcement related to the access block.

The company declared that access to personal websites and blogs had been blocked upon the preferences defined by the ministry. The website of the Agos newspaper was included in this filter because it was perceived as part of this category by the system, it was announced.

It was also stated that access to the site was possible again after the category of the site was changed as the result of an application to the production company.

Tanrıkulu submits parliamentary question

At the same time, opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu submitted a parliamentary question addressed to Minister of Education Ömer Dinçer.

The petition was submitted before the explanatory announcement of the Turkish Telecom was released. Tanrıkulu pointed to the fast increase of oppressions in the field of the internet related to press freedom and freedom of expression in Turkey. He interpreted the access ban to the Agos newspaper as the latest example of these applications. (EKN/VK)