Turkey censored YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram...

[New Rogernomics]

[...]There are many Turkish newspapers who criticise the government, and many papers who side with the government. The freedom of speech is much more relevant than it is projected by Foreign medias. There of course will be errors, and it is totally open to criticism, but we should do it without bias and reliable information.

There aren't. The major newspapers that criticized the government were essentially nationalized, and the editors and many staff imprisoned, and then replaced by those supportive of the government. Those that side with the government still operate, while those that don't end up shut down, regardless of whether they spread 'terrorist propaganda' or not. Seeing a clear pattern of censorship here.

Wouldn't you detain an MP, or close down a newspaper or TV channel who spreads terrorist propaganda? They are not responsible citizens anymore. They are terrorists.

Quite impossible in places like the United States, as the constitution goes quite far in protecting hate speech, for instance even if Fethullah Gulen was guilty of motivating a coup in Turkey as Erdogan claims, it would be difficult for any US government to extradite. It varies between the countries, but in most, an MP, newspaper editor, or TV channel host, couldn't be detained unless actually convicted of aiding a terrorist organization. It took forever for the UK government for example to imprison Anjem Choudary, even though he outright celebrated the rise of ISIS and encouraged people to join it.

Here are some links to Turkish international newspapers:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ (neutral, sometimes against government newspaper) Nationalized.
http://www.dailysabah.com/ (pro-government newspaper) Nationalized.
http://aa.com.tr/en (official news agency) State run.
http://www.dha.com.tr/english/ (another news agency which owns Hürriyet) Nationalized.

It isn't a free press if it is nationalized by the government for criticizing said government. The only news agency in your list not interfered with was government run from the beginning, and is never critical of the government. It would be like if a western country nationalized all the newspapers who opposed the war in Iraq/Afghanistan, the 'war on terror' or counter-terrorist operations. It would no longer be a 'free press', but a harshly curtailed press, akin to wartime censorship, and this is even before you get to the argument over whether wartime censorship is justified.

[Outer Sparta]

Not a surprise, since Turkey is very much authoritarian.

[Sareva]

Your "President" has a fucking mansion the size of Versailles. Your "President" is a fucking genocidal fuckwit. Your "President" is obviously a piece of human filth who is trying to gain even more than absolute control. Arguing that people who are dissenting the government's own fucked up actions and morals is not "spreading terrorist propaganda", it's simply speaking your opinion. Acting on it is a different story: this is not the case here.

Turkey is a beautiful nation with beautiful people. Turkey's government is the ugly step-child who ruins it for everyone else. I'm also not going to read those newspapers because I highly doubt they are not under pressure to follow the state's directions. Erdogan is a really horrible person, and I refuse to accept that he is doing something "perfectly legal".

*** Warned for trolling. ***

Debate is fine, even attacking another poster's position, but inflamatory language like you've used here is not acceptable.

Understood. I'll abstain from doing so in the future. Sorry for doing so.

[Shofercia]

What do you think about it, what will they do next?
I think their next step is the so-called "Presidency" , that inevitable person will take the full and un-democratic control over Turkey. And than, Turkey will get even more un-democratic day by day. In the end it will either destroy itself or there will be a bloody-civil-war
Alternative source BBC:
"History is repeating itself in Turkey. Once again, Turkish authorities have blocked social media in the run-up to an election.
Last year, shortly before local elections in March, sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube were banned after leaked audio recordings purported to reveal corruption within the inner circle of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - who was then prime minister.
This year, it was an image of a Turkish prosecutor being held at gunpoint after being taken hostage in March that was circulating online. He was later killed.
A ban was necessary, the court argued, because the images were "propaganda for an armed terrorist organisation and distressing for the prosecutor's family".
Once again, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook were blocked. On top of that, 166 websites which shared the images were blocked and a criminal investigation was launched against four newspapers for publishing them.
The restrictions have now been lifted after the various social media platforms complied with a court ruling to remove the images.
'Censorship again?'
The proximity of the ban to the election did not go unnoticed. "Censorship again? What a coincidence?!", wrote one Twitter user.
Many people in Turkey view the social media restrictions as a sign of the government's intolerance of opposition voices.
There is a big quality difference between the Twitter service that the American or British people are receiving and what Turkish people are
Yaman Akdeniz, Digital law specialist, Bilgi University, Istanbul
Yaman Akdeniz, a professor at Bilgi University in Istanbul who specialises in digital law, warns there "might be more of those restrictions before the elections".
"I think that ahead of the elections, with the tension growing, the restrictions will increase for various reasons," Mr Akdeniz says.
He worries the government will take advantage of a law against breaching personal and private rights. "It has a broad definition," he says.
But is it necessary to block an entire social network?
A new internet law allows Turkey's telecommunications authority (TIB) to block any website without seeking a court ruling first, and without giving the website an opportunity first to remove the offending content.
'Respect the court'
Taha Un, a prominent AKP supporter on Twitter, defends the banning of websites, saying in the case of Twitter it "is not to punish the Turkish users but Twitter itself".
"This ban is targeting Twitter and giving a message: 'If you do not comply with my ruling and ignore it then I will restrict your access to the users in Turkey'," he says.
"Nobody has the right to show Turkey as a government applying censorship. They just have to respect the court's decision. Respecting the court means respecting the users in Turkey," he adds.
But should social media companies simply comply with court orders telling them to censor certain material? What about their users' right to free expression?
"There is a big quality difference between the Twitter service that the American or British people are receiving and what Turkish people are," says Mr Akdeniz.
"Ours is censored, our accounts can be held any time."
A Turkish riot policeman uses teargas against a woman as people protest against a development plan for Gezi park in Taksim Square in central Istanbul on 28 May 2013Image copyrightREUTERS
Image caption
Social media played a crucial role spreading reports and images of the Gezi Park protests in Istanbul and elsewhere in 2013
He says the social media platforms comply with the ruling is because "they don't want to be shut down, they don't want to take that risk".
"But maybe they should take that risk, because they are being bullied in Turkey … All around the world, people talk about corporate social responsibility, but then where is that responsibility in those companies?"
'Menace to society'
The use of social media in Turkey has flourished over the past few years and has come to reflect the country's vibrant and varied culture.
It came into its own in the summer of 2013, as a place to communicate and disseminate information during the Gezi Park protest.
Social media platforms became the alternatives to the mainstream media outlets, which were criticised for self-censorship and an pro-government slant.
But Mr Erdogan was not impressed. "Social media is the worst menace to society," he said.
And yet, the AKP's supporters attempted to turn it to their advantage, launching social media campaigns against the Gezi protestors.
Then the leaked audio recordings emerged, apparently revealing corruption in Mr Erdogan's inner circle.
The AKP was trying to consolidate its power ahead of the local elections and the leak presented a threat.
Twitter and YouTube were promptly banned for 20 hours and Mr Erdogan vowed to "eradicate" the platforms.
There are now only weeks left until Turkey's crucial parliamentary elections and tensions are already running high.
Social media should be a place for Turkish people to express themselves freely and democratically, but just how free it will be as the election approaches remains to be seen."

Bad Erdogan, bad! Stop censoring Social Media.

[Greater Pareidolia]

What do you think about it, what will they do next?
I think their next step is the so-called "Presidency" , that inevitable person will take the full and un-democratic control over Turkey. And than, Turkey will get even more un-democratic day by day. In the end it will either destroy itself or there will be a bloody-civil-war
Alternative source BBC:
"History is repeating itself in Turkey. Once again, Turkish authorities have blocked social media in the run-up to an election.
Last year, shortly before local elections in March, sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube were banned after leaked audio recordings purported to reveal corruption within the inner circle of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - who was then prime minister.
This year, it was an image of a Turkish prosecutor being held at gunpoint after being taken hostage in March that was circulating online. He was later killed.
A ban was necessary, the court argued, because the images were "propaganda for an armed terrorist organisation and distressing for the prosecutor's family".
Once again, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook were blocked. On top of that, 166 websites which shared the images were blocked and a criminal investigation was launched against four newspapers for publishing them.
The restrictions have now been lifted after the various social media platforms complied with a court ruling to remove the images.
'Censorship again?'
The proximity of the ban to the election did not go unnoticed. "Censorship again? What a coincidence?!", wrote one Twitter user.
Many people in Turkey view the social media restrictions as a sign of the government's intolerance of opposition voices.
There is a big quality difference between the Twitter service that the American or British people are receiving and what Turkish people are
Yaman Akdeniz, Digital law specialist, Bilgi University, Istanbul
Yaman Akdeniz, a professor at Bilgi University in Istanbul who specialises in digital law, warns there "might be more of those restrictions before the elections".
"I think that ahead of the elections, with the tension growing, the restrictions will increase for various reasons," Mr Akdeniz says.
He worries the government will take advantage of a law against breaching personal and private rights. "It has a broad definition," he says.
But is it necessary to block an entire social network?
A new internet law allows Turkey's telecommunications authority (TIB) to block any website without seeking a court ruling first, and without giving the website an opportunity first to remove the offending content.
'Respect the court'
Taha Un, a prominent AKP supporter on Twitter, defends the banning of websites, saying in the case of Twitter it "is not to punish the Turkish users but Twitter itself".
"This ban is targeting Twitter and giving a message: 'If you do not comply with my ruling and ignore it then I will restrict your access to the users in Turkey'," he says.
"Nobody has the right to show Turkey as a government applying censorship. They just have to respect the court's decision. Respecting the court means respecting the users in Turkey," he adds.
But should social media companies simply comply with court orders telling them to censor certain material? What about their users' right to free expression?
"There is a big quality difference between the Twitter service that the American or British people are receiving and what Turkish people are," says Mr Akdeniz.
"Ours is censored, our accounts can be held any time."
A Turkish riot policeman uses teargas against a woman as people protest against a development plan for Gezi park in Taksim Square in central Istanbul on 28 May 2013Image copyrightREUTERS
Image caption
Social media played a crucial role spreading reports and images of the Gezi Park protests in Istanbul and elsewhere in 2013
He says the social media platforms comply with the ruling is because "they don't want to be shut down, they don't want to take that risk".
"But maybe they should take that risk, because they are being bullied in Turkey … All around the world, people talk about corporate social responsibility, but then where is that responsibility in those companies?"
'Menace to society'
The use of social media in Turkey has flourished over the past few years and has come to reflect the country's vibrant and varied culture.
It came into its own in the summer of 2013, as a place to communicate and disseminate information during the Gezi Park protest.
Social media platforms became the alternatives to the mainstream media outlets, which were criticised for self-censorship and an pro-government slant.
But Mr Erdogan was not impressed. "Social media is the worst menace to society," he said.
And yet, the AKP's supporters attempted to turn it to their advantage, launching social media campaigns against the Gezi protestors.
Then the leaked audio recordings emerged, apparently revealing corruption in Mr Erdogan's inner circle.
The AKP was trying to consolidate its power ahead of the local elections and the leak presented a threat.
Twitter and YouTube were promptly banned for 20 hours and Mr Erdogan vowed to "eradicate" the platforms.
There are now only weeks left until Turkey's crucial parliamentary elections and tensions are already running high.
Social media should be a place for Turkish people to express themselves freely and democratically, but just how free it will be as the election approaches remains to be seen."

Bad Erdogan, bad! Stop censoring Social Media.

You tell him, Shofe!

[Ereria]

If Europeans love kurds so much, why won't you just give them some land? Like eastern france or maybe northern England? What about south spain? You guys love them sooo much and they are so peaceful and secular and amazing people they truly deserve a country. Why not Europe?

The thing is, EU won't be able to stop Turkey, and hopefully we will be able to execute as many PKK members and supporters as possible. I have kurdish friends, and they love our country as much as I do, but the kurds that is supporters of PKK have to die.

[ChicagoBoys]

If Europeans love kurds so much, why won't you just give them some land? Like eastern france or maybe northern England? What about south spain? You guys love them sooo much and they are so peaceful and secular and amazing people they truly deserve a country. Why not Europe?

The thing is, EU won't be able to stop Turkey, and hopefully we will be able to execute as many PKK members and supporters as possible. I have kurdish friends, and they love our country as much as I do, but the kurds that is supporters of PKK have to die.

We gave them Turkey. We gave Turkey to Turkey. The Kurds will have a state and Turkey will be treated as the terrorist state it is. You cannot support Turkey without being a terrorist.

[UIJ]

Don't you mean they censored Instagram? YouTube, Facebook, and twitter are doing that to themselves.

[Baltenstein]

If Europeans love kurds so much, why won't you just give them some land? Like eastern france or maybe northern England? What about south spain? You guys love them sooo much and they are so peaceful and secular and amazing people they truly deserve a country. Why not Europe?

>> Says Turkey is Turkish ancestral homeland by right
>> Says Kurds should leave their own ancenstral homeland and get land in some foreign place somewhere

Classy as alyways, Ereria.

If I'm not not completely mistaken, the Kurdish people have actually lived in the place they are now since before the Turkish tribes arrived there.

[Ereria]

If Europeans love kurds so much, why won't you just give them some land? Like eastern france or maybe northern England? What about south spain? You guys love them sooo much and they are so peaceful and secular and amazing people they truly deserve a country. Why not Europe?

>> Says Turkey is Turkish ancestral homeland by right
>> Says Kurds should leave their own ancenstral homeland and get land in some foreign place somewhere

Classy as alyways, Ereria.

If I'm not not completely mistaken, the Kurdish people have actually lived in the place they are now since before the Turkish tribes arrived there.

Wtf, where did I say Turkish ancestral homeland is modern day Turkey? Turkic people are from central asia, and we arrived here much later than kurds. Does it matter today? Fuck no. We conquered and we stayed. Too bad kurds couldn't defend themselves back then just like today

But why not? Why don't you want kurds in your country? Just give them eastern part of wherever you are? does it really matter to you? Kurds are so nice people so why not?

[Narintia]

Long live Sultan Erdogan, of the House Tayipp, long may his reign be, ruler of the Neo-Ottoman Empire!

[Greater Pareidolia]

>> Says Turkey is Turkish ancestral homeland by right
>> Says Kurds should leave their own ancenstral homeland and get land in some foreign place somewhere

Classy as alyways, Ereria.

If I'm not not completely mistaken, the Kurdish people have actually lived in the place they are now since before the Turkish tribes arrived there.

Wtf, where did I say Turkish ancestral homeland is modern day Turkey? Turkic people are from central asia, and we arrived here much later than kurds. Does it matter today? Fuck no. We conquered and we stayed. Too bad kurds couldn't defend themselves back then just like today

But why not? Why don't you want kurds in your country? Just give them eastern part of wherever you are? does it really matter to you? Kurds are so nice people so why not?

Then why are your moslim brothers making such a big stink about the areas they lost to Israel? They attacked, they lost, they couldn't defend themselves, and lost ground. But they bitch to the UN.

Also, I want Kurds in my country. Sadly, in most of Europe, the largest nationality behind the native one is usually Turkish. Which kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind of makes for a bad deal. Unless you're willing to take those Turks back in exchange for us getting the Kurds? I'd be all over that in a heartbeat. You know why? Because while individually Turks are great people, when you get them together, they are by and large a bunch of nationalist pricks who take offense where none is intended (or even present!) I mean, come on, what kind of people drive around in the country they are GUESTS in to support their home country, even say that they prefer the sultan to the prime minister of their new home, and stay here?

[Baltenstein]

>> Says Turkey is Turkish ancestral homeland by right
>> Says Kurds should leave their own ancenstral homeland and get land in some foreign place somewhere

Classy as alyways, Ereria.

If I'm not not completely mistaken, the Kurdish people have actually lived in the place they are now since before the Turkish tribes arrived there.

Wtf, where did I say Turkish ancestral homeland is modern day Turkey? Turkic people are from central asia, and we arrived here much later than kurds. Does it matter today? Fuck no. We conquered and we stayed. Too bad kurds couldn't defend themselves back then just like today

But why not? Why don't you want kurds in your country? Just give them eastern part of wherever you are? does it really matter to you? Kurds are so nice people so why not?

Let it be said to you that Kurds actually do form one of the biggest ethnic minorities in my country.

And if you think ancestral homelands don't matter, why don't the Turks move somewhere else? Why should the Kurds?

[Daburuetchi]

Also, I want Kurds in my country. Sadly, in most of Europe, the largest nationality behind the native one is usually Turkish. Which kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind of makes for a bad deal. Unless you're willing to take those Turks back in exchange for us getting the Kurds? I'd be all over that in a heartbeat. You know why? Because while individually Turks are great people, when you get them together, they are by and large a bunch of nationalist pricks who take offense where none is intended (or even present!) I mean, come on, what kind of people drive around in the country they are GUESTS in to support their home country, even say that they prefer the sultan to the prime minister of their new home, and stay here?

I thought Kurds were Mountain Turks/s. But yeah no Kurds can be just as nationalistic. Some do in fact engage in ethnic cleansing and honor killing. We shouldnt romaticize and entire ethnic group

[Greater Pareidolia]

Also, I want Kurds in my country. Sadly, in most of Europe, the largest nationality behind the native one is usually Turkish. Which kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind of makes for a bad deal. Unless you're willing to take those Turks back in exchange for us getting the Kurds? I'd be all over that in a heartbeat. You know why? Because while individually Turks are great people, when you get them together, they are by and large a bunch of nationalist pricks who take offense where none is intended (or even present!) I mean, come on, what kind of people drive around in the country they are GUESTS in to support their home country, even say that they prefer the sultan to the prime minister of their new home, and stay here?

I thought Kurds were Mountain Turks/s. But yeah no Kurds can be just as nationalistic. Some do in fact engage in ethnic cleansing and honor killing. We shouldnt romaticize and entire ethnic group

I know this. And still I prefer Kurds over Turks.

[Liriena]

Erdogan continues to prove he doesn't give a single solitary crap about democracy, or his nation's secular legacy for that matter.

[Liriena]

Long live Sultan Erdogan, of the House Tayipp, long may his reign be, ruler of the Neo-Ottoman Empire!

I figure the actual sultans of the late Ottoman Empire would hate his Islamist guts, though.

[Greater Pareidolia]

Long live Sultan Erdogan, of the House Tayipp, long may his reign be, ruler of the Neo-Ottoman Empire!

I figure the actual sultans of the late Ottoman Empire would hate his Islamist guts, though.

Really? REALLY? Did you even cast a cursory glance at the history of the Ottoman Empire?
You had to be a bloody muslim to even be the sultan in the first place. The sultan was the highest person in islam.

Kids these days...

[Liriena]

I figure the actual sultans of the late Ottoman Empire would hate his Islamist guts, though.

Really? REALLY? Did you even cast a cursory glance at the history of the Ottoman Empire?
You had to be a bloody muslim to even be the sultan in the first place. The sultan was the highest person in islam.

Kids these days...

During the late Ottoman Empire they had some fairly liberal sultans, though.

[Greater Pareidolia]

Really? REALLY? Did you even cast a cursory glance at the history of the Ottoman Empire?
You had to be a bloody muslim to even be the sultan in the first place. The sultan was the highest person in islam.

Kids these days...

During the late Ottoman Empire they had some fairly liberal sultans, though.

A fairly liberal sultan is still a muslim sultan because they had to be. No amount of qualification can fix the fact that you were wrong.

[Ereria]

Wtf, where did I say Turkish ancestral homeland is modern day Turkey? Turkic people are from central asia, and we arrived here much later than kurds. Does it matter today? Fuck no. We conquered and we stayed. Too bad kurds couldn't defend themselves back then just like today

But why not? Why don't you want kurds in your country? Just give them eastern part of wherever you are? does it really matter to you? Kurds are so nice people so why not?

Then why are your moslim brothers making such a big stink about the areas they lost to Israel? They attacked, they lost, they couldn't defend themselves, and lost ground. But they bitch to the UN.

Also, I want Kurds in my country. Sadly, in most of Europe, the largest nationality behind the native one is usually Turkish. Which kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind of makes for a bad deal. Unless you're willing to take those Turks back in exchange for us getting the Kurds? I'd be all over that in a heartbeat. You know why? Because while individually Turks are great people, when you get them together, they are by and large a bunch of nationalist pricks who take offense where none is intended (or even present!) I mean, come on, what kind of people drive around in the country they are GUESTS in to support their home country, even say that they prefer the sultan to the prime minister of their new home, and stay here?

Firstly, I don't give a fuck about palestinians. If they can't manage to defend themselves I don't care

Secondly, yes please, would be a dream come true. Get rid of kurds and bring in more turks? Yes!

[Novus America]

Really? REALLY? Did you even cast a cursory glance at the history of the Ottoman Empire?
You had to be a bloody muslim to even be the sultan in the first place. The sultan was the highest person in islam.

Kids these days...

During the late Ottoman Empire they had some fairly liberal sultans, though.

The Ottoman Empire was still an Islamist theocracy. And usually quite illiberal. Sometimes even genocidal. And always corrupt. Erdogan would fit right in.

[Daburuetchi]

During the late Ottoman Empire they had some fairly liberal sultans, though.

The Ottoman Empire was still an Islamist theocracy. And usually quite illiberal. Sometimes even genocidal. And always corrupt. Erdogan would fit right in.

Based Enver Pasha would never fit in with that watermelon seller (he did in fact sell watermelons according to memritv) Erdogan/s

[The Forsworn Knights]

During the late Ottoman Empire they had some fairly liberal sultans, though.

A fairly liberal sultan is still a muslim sultan because they had to be. No amount of qualification can fix the fact that you were wrong.

To be a sultan you also had to assassinate every single one of your brothers until the only ones left standing were the ones who announced publicly that they had given up their claims.

[Liriena]

A fairly liberal sultan is still a muslim sultan because they had to be. No amount of qualification can fix the fact that you were wrong.

To be a sultan you also had to assassinate every single one of your brothers until the only ones left standing were the ones who announced publicly that they had given up their claims.

So... Game of Thrones, but cooler.