• Source:JND
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As Nepal grapples with widespread protests against the blocking of major social media platforms, another country has now drawn global attention for imposing similar restrictions. According to NetBlocks, a global internet observatory, Turkey has restricted access to multiple platforms, including X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp.

The restrictions were first noticed on Sunday at around 20:45 GMT, with users experiencing bandwidth throttling across major networks. Turkey’s Freedom of Expression Association, which monitors local internet censorship, confirmed that the disruptions affected millions of users.

The timing of the internet blockade coincided with a call from Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which urged citizens to gather in Istanbul. The CHP denounced the police barricades around its headquarters, calling the move a “siege.”

NetBlocks reported that the throttling of online platforms appeared directly connected to these opposition-led rallies. Turkey’s Access Providers Union, the authority responsible for implementing blocking decisions, has not issued a statement on the matter.

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Political Crackdown Intensifies

The CHP has been under relentless pressure for months, facing a sweeping legal crackdown targeting hundreds of its members. Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, widely considered President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strongest political rival, was arrested in March, triggering Turkey’s largest street demonstrations in a decade.

The ongoing protests highlight deep public frustration over corruption, governance issues, and the erosion of democratic freedoms. The internet restrictions are seen by many as a tool to suppress dissent and prevent citizens from mobilising through social media.

Nepal’s Parallel Crisis

The events in Turkey come just as Nepal reels from unrest following its own social media ban. Authorities in Kathmandu restricted access to X, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, triggering massive protests led largely by Gen Z demonstrators.

According to Nepal’s Health Ministry, at least 14 people have been killed and over 100 injured in violent clashes near the Parliament area. Protesters have been using VPNs to bypass restrictions and coordinate their movements, leading to further confrontations with police.

The Nepal Army has been deployed in limited capacity around Kathmandu, with troops stationed to secure government buildings after protesters vandalised Parliament’s gates. Hospitals are struggling to treat the surge of casualties amid a worsening resource crunch.

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