Media Haber commentator brands digital media a "war front" against Öcalan
As account suspensions and access blocks continue, journalist Erdal Er told Media Haber TV that digital media has become a "new battlefield" against Abdullah Öcalan. Er did not say who was waging this war. The vagueness leaves every critical voice on the process under suspicion.
RastinewsJournalist Erdal Er described digital media as a new front in an ongoing conflict during an appearance on Media Haber TV's program "Medya Aktüel." The episode aired under the title "Attacks by opponents of the process and those paving the way for them."
"A multifaceted war is being waged against the Kurds, the Kurdish Freedom Movement and the Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan," Er said. According to Er, this war has opened a "new battlefield" — digital media.
"Caution is needed"
Er said a "special war" was being fought against Öcalan on digital media and called for vigilance. He noted that wars have historically been waged through other means, but today digital media can produce both war and peace.
In his five-minute remarks, Er did not name a single account, journalist or outlet. Nor did he specify who was waging this "special war" or which content fell under it.
Timing in question
Er's remarks come as pressure on the digital sphere intensifies. In recent months, access to the websites of Kurdish and opposition outlets has been blocked, and social media accounts have been suspended. Many journalists and outlets have had to move to other platforms because of restrictions on X.
Opposition digital media now faces both state access blocks and rhetoric that labels criticism of the process as "war." An unnamed "enemy" designation leaves Kurdish journalists and independent outlets critical of the process under the same cloud of suspicion.