In response to two tragic school shootings on April 14 and 15, Turkish authorities have restricted access to over 1,100 social media accounts and detained 162 individuals accused of disseminating controversial content related to the incidents.
The Turkish Minister of Justice, Akin Gurlek, stated that 95 of those detained were specifically charged with sharing posts directly linked to the attacks. He accused these individuals of broadcasting videos from the crime scenes despite an official ban on such transmissions, as well as spreading content that could incite public fear, glorifying the perpetrators, and disseminating misinformation aimed at undermining official statements.
Additionally, 67 individuals were taken into custody for sharing posts that suggested the possibility of future attacks at other schools. The government’s actions reflect a broader effort to control the narrative surrounding these violent events.
The first shooting occurred on April 14 in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa, where a former student entered a school and opened fire with a shotgun, injuring 16 individuals before taking his own life. The incident raised alarms about school safety and mental health issues among students.
The following day, another shooting took place in Kahramanmaras province, resulting in the deaths of nine people, including a teacher and eight students. Thirteen others were injured, with six in critical condition. Authorities identified the shooter as an eighth-grade student who reportedly brought five firearms to the school, believed to have been taken from his father, a former police officer. The shooter also died, and his parents have been detained by police.
Turkish authorities have responded to recent school shootings by detaining individuals accused of spreading controversial content and limiting social media access. These actions aim to control the narrative surrounding the tragic events and address public safety concerns.
Source: BBC