Turkey's electronic media regulatory body has banned access to the Turkish-language websites of the US state-run Voice of America (VoA) and German state-run Deutsche Welle (DW).

In this way, the regulatory agency implemented yesterday's decision of the court in Ankara to restrict access to the websites of the two media.

"Media licensed to operate in Turkey must delete online content deemed inappropriate by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK).

This is simply unacceptable for an independent broadcaster.

DW will take legal action against the current blockade," said DW CEO Peter Limburg.

RTÜK, KRT TV, Tele1, Halk TV, Flash TV and FOX TV have been fined a total of 10 million liras.

RTÜK member İlhan Taşcı: "Bu ıştatın bası öğreğini vurulan bir darbedir"https://t.co/RE885elZG6 pic.twitter.com/EpdSaYGgsM

— ANKA Haber Ajansı (@ankahabera) July 1, 2022

RTÜK member from the opposition Republican People's Party, Ilhan Taşci, stated that he opposes the blockade decision.

"Here is freedom of the media and advanced democracy," announced Tasci on Twitter.

The Turkish Journalists Union called RTÜK's decision censorship and that the council should stop "banning anything it doesn't like".

The international organization Reporters Without Borders ranks Turkey 149 out of 180 in its World Media Freedom Index.

The organization says that in Turkey, "all possible means are used to stifle criticism," including confiscation of press cards, internet censorship, lawsuits and arrests.

/Telegraph/