Reporters Without Borders (RSF) denounced the recent censorship targeting online articles critical of the Turkish authorities' handling of the aftermath of the earthquake.

The government should respect investigative journalism, the group said. Erol Önderoğlu, the RSF representative in Turkey, expressed concerns that online censorship may further increase ahead of the 14 May elections.

Önderoğlu said: "After security forces, the administration and the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), now penal judgeships of peace target press freedom. While the country is in need of transparency more than ever before, these decisions to block access to reports once again serve the purpose of preventing criticism against the government's post-earthquake practices."