Unblock The Banned Websites In Turkey

UNBLOCK THE BANNED WEBSITES IN TURKEY

THIS PETITION IS FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND FOR UNBLOCKING THE BANNED WEBSITES IN TURKEY

IT IS A CALL FOR ENDING CENSORSHIP AND RESTRICTIONS ON MEDIA AND THE INTERNET

OUR AIM IS TO BRING AN AWARENESS TO THE AUTHORITIES THAT BANNING IS NOT THE RIGHT SOLUTION


More than 4,000 Web sites are currently banned in Turkey, access to most of which was blocked following complaints by individuals over inappropriate content on these sites.

The list includes sites like Youtube, Myspace, Blogger.com, Last.fm.tr, Pirate Bay, Biologist Richard Dawkins' WebSite, Geocities, Megaupload, and many more including news, email, and blog sites. For a full list see: http://engelliweb.com.

Turkey's Telecommunications Directorate has blocked 1,591 Web sites since last year under the law against cyber crime, which includes a wide range of offenses. Nearly half of the site-blocking rulings were issued due to the content involving the sexual exploitation of children online.

This was followed by obscenity as the main reason for the closure of 539 sites. Other reasons included online prostitution, online porn, facilitating narcotics acquisition, encouraging suicidal behavior, gambling sites, providing a physical location and the opportunity for gambling, movie and music download sites, certain sites on anti-religious rhetoric or atheism, and other reasons. Crimes against the memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatьrk were another reason for Web sites to be blocked.

Constant bans on scores of Web sites drew the ire of nongovernmental organizations in Turkey, which called on authorities not to restrict the scope of freedom of individuals who wish to have full usage of the Internet and find alternative methods to combat undesired content on Web sites.

Internet Technology Association (ЭTD) President Mustafa Akgьl said the bans on Web sites were a result of Turkey's war against the Internet. "Blocking Web sites creates an impression that Turkey has not fully comprehended what the Internet is. I compare these bans to the situation of an ostrich, which buries its head in the sand not to see the reality. Turkey is harming itself, knowingly or unknowingly, with such bans," he stated.

Akgьl went on to say that the authorities should find alternative methods to fight against the undesired content of Web sites. "Many road accidents occur in this country every day, but we do not forbid people from driving cars, do we? So why ban Web sites? These sites are a means of communication between individuals and the world. It is not logical to forbid people from establishing communication with the world," he remarked.

Tansel Parlak, a representative of the Young Civilians - a civil society group known for its use of sarcasm in protests, said Turkey places itself in an awkward position by banning Web sites.

"Bans are outdated and there are many ways to circumvent them. The authorities should find more effective solutions to fight against their problems with the Internet. Banning a Web site contravenes human rights and restricts people's freedom," he added.

UNBLOCK THE BANNED WEBSITES IN TURKEY

THIS PETITION IS FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND FOR UNBLOCKING THE BANNED WEBSITES IN TURKEY

IT IS A CALL FOR ENDING CENSORSHIP AND RESTRICTIONS ON MEDIA AND THE INTERNET

OUR AIM IS TO BRING AN AWARENESS TO THE AUTHORITIES THAT BANNING IS NOT THE RIGHT SOLUTION



See more examples:

http://www.kamilpasha.com/2008/09/08/richard-dawkins-banned-in-turkey-turkey-bans-website-of-prominent-biologist-writer/

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,26043539-7484,00.html?from=public_rss

http://mashable.com/2009/09/19/last-fm-myspace-turkey/