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Block of Wikipedia in Turkey

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Online access to all language versions of Wikipedia was blocked in Turkey on 29 April 2017 by Turkish authorities.[1][2] The restrictions occurred in the context of the 2016–17 purges following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, a few weeks after a significant constitutional referendum, and following more selective partial blocking of Wikipedia content in previous years.[3]

Background

The block occurred two weeks after the Turkish constitutional referendum, which was held on 16 April 2017.

On 25 April, Turkey sent several airstrikes upon Syrian Kurds facilities in both Syria and Iraq (Sinjar), with PKK, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and its armed wing the YPG officially targeted. Forty militants were killed at Iraq's Sinjar Mountains, 49 at Syria's Mont Karacok.[4] The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) threatened to withdraw from the ongoing operation to capture Raqqa if the United States didn't take measures to stop Turkey's airstrikes against the group.[5] Also, the US started patrolling the border alongside SDF troops in order to force ceasefire between its two allies.[6][7]

On 26 April, continuing the 2016–17 Turkish purges, 1,009 police officers were accused of being a secret Gülenist network within the Turkish police force, and were detained.[8] 9,100 officers have been suspended[9][10] On 29 April , 3,974 more civil servants were dismissed. Together with the ban of Wikipedia and television dating shows, The New York Times qualified the moves as "an expand[ing] crackdown on dissent and free expression".[3]

Block

On the morning of 29 April 2017, following news from Turkey Blocks that all language versions of Wikipedia had been blocked in Turkey,[1] several websites published articles about the event.[11] Reuters and the BBC reported that the Turkish authorities had blocked all access to Wikipedia in the country from 5.00 GMT. No reason was given by Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority which simply stated: "After technical analysis and legal consideration based on the Law Nr. 5651 [governing the internet], an administrative measure has been taken for this website."[12][2]

Voice of America reported that Turkish media had explained the blockage was a result of "terror-related content".[13] Referring to an email statement made by the Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ministry, Turkish News source Anadolu Agency reports that the blockage was due to its articles and comments showing Turkey in coordination and aligned with terrorist groups. The ministry said, "Instead of coordinating against terrorism, it has become part of an information source which is running a smear campaign against Turkey in the international arena."[14]

According to the BBC report, the Hurriyet daily newspaper said that Ankara had asked Wikipedia to remove the offending content, adding that the access ban would be lifted if Wikipedia meets Turkey's demands.[2]

Later in the day, the provisional "administrative measure" was replaced by a court order, issued by the Ankara 1st Criminal Court of Peace, blocking Wikipedia as a "protection measure".[1]

Turkey has demanded that international websites take such steps as having a representative office in the country, complying with principles of international law, implementing court rulings, and not being part of any smear campaign or operation in Turkey.[15] NDTV said that the move had caused strong reactions on the social media against the decision to deny access to "one of the world's most popular websites".[16]

Users report that they can only access Wikipedia using tools such as, most commonly, private VPNs.[17][18]

Legal context

Law No. 5651, known as the Internet Act (IA), was enacted on 4 May 2007.[19] The purpose of this law was described by the now-defunct Presidency of Telecommunication and Communication as follows: "There are 2 reasons for the law to be brought out. The first reason; determining the liability and the responsibility of collective use providers, access providers, location providers and content providers which are the main actors of the Internet. The other reason is to determine the procedures and fundamentals related to the specific crimes committed over the Internet and fighting these through content, location and access providers."[20] More recently, the law has been used to censor individuals, journalists and the media.[21] The European Council's Venice Commission has found the law to be particularly controversial.[22]

Reactions

Republican People's Party parliamentarians criticized the block, with Eren Erdem stating that the ban puts "Turkey in line with North Korea" and Baris Yarkadas calling it "censorship and a violation of the right to access information".[23][24] In a tweet Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales expressed his support for those criticizing the decision as censorship, saying "Access to information is a fundamental human right. Turkish people I will always stand with you to fight for this right."[23][17][25] The Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia, states that it is committed to keeping the site available in Turkey and pushing for a "judicial review" of the decision.[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Wikipedia blocked in Turkey". Turkey Blocks. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Turkish authorities block Wikipedia without giving reason". BBC News. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b Kingsley, Patrick (30 April 2017), Turkey Purges 4,000 More Officials, and Blocks Wikipedia
  4. ^ Turkey may hit YPG in Syria ‘all of a sudden’: President Erdoğan, Hurriyet, April 30, 2017
  5. ^ "YPG threatenes to withdraw from Raqqa ops amid Turkish attacks". NRT TV. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  6. ^ Bilginsoy, Zeynep1; Deeb, Sarah El (29 April 2017). "Turkey, U.S. move armored vehicles onto either side of Syrian border".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Turkey attacks Rojava to impede anti-ISIS operations in Raqqa: Western SDF volunteer". ARA News. 29 April 2017.
  8. ^ Kingsley, Patrick (26 April 2017). "Over 1,000 People Are Detained in Raids in Turkey". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Purges en Turquie : plus de 9 000 policiers suspendus". 26 April 2017 – via Le Monde.
  10. ^ Turkey fires 3,900 in second post-referendum purge, Reuters.com, Apr 29, 2017
  11. ^ Turkey blocks Wikipedia as threat to national security
  12. ^ Turkey blocks access to Wikipedia
  13. ^ "Monitors: Turkey Blocks Access to Wikipedia". Voice of America. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  14. ^ http://aa.com.tr/en/science-technology/turkey-wikipedia-blocked-for-disregarding-the-law/808072
  15. ^ "Turkey: Wikipedia blocked for disregarding the law". Anadolu Agency. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  16. ^ "Turkish Authorities Block Access To Wikipedia: Monitor". NDTV. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Türkei blockiert Wikipedia-Zugang" (in German). Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Internet-Zensur unter Erdogan: Türkei blockiert Wikipedia" (in German). FOCUS Online. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  19. ^ World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO. "Overview, Law N. 5651, Turkey". WIPO. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  20. ^ Presidency of Telecommunication, communication, PTC. "Information about the regulations of the content of the Internet". PTC. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  21. ^ Akdeniz, Y.; Altiparmak, K. (November 2008). "Internet: restricted access- A critical assessment of Internet Content Regulation and Censorship in Turkey" (PDF). cyber-rights.org. İnsan Hakları Ortak Platformu (IHOP). Retrieved April 29, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  22. ^ "OPINION ON LAW No. 5651 ON REGULATION OF PUBLICATIONS ON THE INTERNET AND COMBATING CRIMES COMMITTED BY MEANS OF SUCH PUBLICATION ("THE INTERNET LAW")". venice.coe.int. Venice Commission for Democracy thorugh Law, Council of Europe. June 15, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  23. ^ a b "Turkish court formally blocks access to Wikipedia". ABC News. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  24. ^ Bilginsoy, Zeynep. "Access to Wikipedia blocked by government in Turkey". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  25. ^ "Jimmy Wales on Twitter". Twitter. 2017-04-29. Retrieved 2017-05-01. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  26. ^ "Turkey blocks Wikipedia over an alleged 'smear campaign'". Engadget. Retrieved 29 April 2017.

External links

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