Facebook lifts ban on BDP’s page

ANKARA

Facebook has reopened the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) headquarters page less than a week after closing it down due to the use of the word “Kurdistan.”

“As a result of the meetings we conducted, the ban has been lifted. Thus, it has been accepted the ban was wrong,” BDP headquarters announced yesterday, without elaborating about the content of their meetings with the Facebook company.

“Nonetheless, opening our page has not removed the need to adopt Facebook rules to both universal media norms and Turkey’s geography and realities. Solely reopening our page is not sufficient,” BDP said.

In a statement announcing the closure Oct. 29, the party accused Facebook of increasing censorship, which it said is a result of the company’s constant cooperation with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

As of Oct. 24, Facebook closed down the BDP’s provincial Istanbul branch’s page. The statement yesterday did not contain information regarding the provincial branch’s page.