Turkey blocks access to Deutsche Welle, Voice of America for not getting licences
July 1, 2022, 10:51 am

Turkey blocks access to Deutsche Welle, Voice of America for not getting licences

Flag of Turkey-Turkey/Pixabay

Turkey's RTUK media watchdog has blocked access to US-based Voice of America and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle for not applying for the licences it requests, a member of the watchdog said on Thursday (June 30).

In February, Deutsche Welle and Voice of America (VOA) said they would not apply for licences in Turkey as requested by RTUK under the country's media regulation law, which critics say aims to increase censorship.

Ilhan Tasci, an RTUK board member from the main opposition CHP, said on Twitter that access to Deutsche Welle's Turkish-language service, DW Turkce, and VOA had been blocked by a court decision.

Tasci said: "Access to DW Turkce and Voice of America, which did not apply for licenses, has been blocked by the Ankara Criminal Court of Peace, upon the request of the RTUK board.”

Turkey blocks access to Deutsche Welle, Voice of America for not getting licences - Photo. Pixabay

He added: "Here is your freedom of press and advanced democracy!"

The vast majority of Turkey's mainstream media outlets are seen as close to the government, with coverage favouring President Tayyip Erdogan and his allies. Turks have increasingly resorted to alternative outlets, some foreign-owned, and social media for news.

Turkey arrests Greek citizen on spying charges

RTUK, whose policymaking board is dominated by Erdogan's AK party and its allies, frequently fines broadcasters that are critical of the government.

An AKP deputy, Mahir Unal, said this week that the debate on a draft bill on media laws that was dubbed "censorship bill" by critics was postponed until parliament reopens in autumn.

Turkey fined for violating rights of Syrian refugee by expelling him

Turkey is also among the top jailers of journalists globally and has frequently been criticised by Western allies and rights groups over its human rights record. They have also accused the Erdogan government of using a failed military coup in 2016 as a pretext to muzzle dissent.

It should be noted that the Turkish government denies this and says the measures it takes are necessary due to the gravity of the threats Turkey faces.

Source: bdnews24

Study: Germany saw thousands of heat-related deaths in 2018 to 2020 Olaf Scholz: Russia threatening Europe and NATO again

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”