Turkey blocks access to Deutsche Welle and Voice of America

ZEYNEP BILGINSOY
Associated Press

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s media watchdog has banned access to the Turkish services of U.S. public service broadcaster Voice of America and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle. The Supreme Board of Radio and Television enforced a February warning to the two companies that air television content in Turkish online to apply for a broadcast license or be blocked. An Ankara court ruled to restrict access to their websites late Thursday. In a statement Friday, Deutsche Welle said it didn’t comply with the licensing requirement because it “would have allowed the Turkish government to censor editorial content.” The German government said it “took note with regret” of the reports. The board dismissed such criticism, saying the websites did not follow regulations.