Twitter Limits Access to Turkish Interior Minister's Tweet

Twitter has limited access to a tweet by Turkey's Interior Minister, who referred to students protesting against the appointment of their university's rector as "LGBT deviants." Over the past few weeks, students and faculty at Istanbul's prestigious Boğaziçi University have been protesting the appointment of Melih Bulu as rector, a move linked to the ruling party. They have demanded Bulu's resignation and calls for rector elections.

Late Monday evening, clashes occurred between police and protesters who organized a demonstration demanding the release of a group of students arrested over the weekend on charges of inciting hatred and insulting religious values. They depicted the most sacred site of Islam alongside LGBT flags on a banner at Boğaziçi University. Authorities reported that 159 people were detained during the clashes, though some were later released.

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu wrote on Twitter that the "LGBT deviants" had been arrested for "disrespecting the Grand Kaaba." On Tuesday, he reiterated his insult, stating on Twitter that the Turkish government would not tolerate "LGBT deviants attempting to seize the rector's office." This prompted Twitter to label Soylu's tweet as a warning for violating the platform's rules on "hate behavior." Meanwhile, Istanbul police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a new protest related to Bulu's appointment, according to Halk TV. Authorities in the capital, Ankara, also dispersed a student demonstration held near the city's main square in solidarity with Boğaziçi students. According to Halk TV, at least 69 protesters were detained.