Istanbul court blocks access to Gülen’s website

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

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An Istanbul court has ruled to block access to the website of U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, accused by the Turkish government of “leading a terrorist organization.”

The Istanbul 7th Criminal Court of Peace stated in its Feb. 11 verdict that the website herkul.org broadcast speeches of “the leader of the armed terror organization Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ)/Parallel State Structure (PDY), Fethullah Gülen.” It said the site should be blocked according to the law on the regulation of publications on the Internet and suppression of crimes committed through such publications.

According to the verdict, Gülen gave messages and instructions to executives and members of the organization about future terrorist actions through speeches published on the site.

It also said Gülen had given instructions about various “plot investigations” across Turkey in some of the speeches, which executives and members of the organization acted in line with.

The court ultimately ruled to send the verdict to the Association of Internet Access Providers (ESB), demanding implementation within four hours at the latest.