Access to Wikipedia Blocked in Turkey

Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales Criticizes Move: ‘Access to Information is a Fundamental Human Right’

ANKARA, Turkey (A.W.)—Access to Wikipedia—the free online encyclopedia, ranked among the 10 most popular websites in the world—was blocked by Turkey on April 29.

Access to Wikipedia—the free online encyclopedia ranked among the 10 most popular websites in the world—was blocked by Turkey on April 29.

Turkey’s Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, announced that the site was blocked for becoming an information source “acting with groups conducting a smear campaign against Turkey in the international arena.”

According to several reports, users in Turkey have been unable to access all language editions of Wikipedia since 8 a.m. (local time) on April 29.

The state-run Anadolu news agency said Turkish officials had previously warned Wikipedia to remove certain sensitive materials, but that the website had refused.

The ban caused a stir on social media in Turkey, as disgruntled users harshly criticized the decision to block access to the popular website.

Shortly after news of the ban began circulating, Jimmy Wales, the founder of the online encyclopedia, criticized the move and vowed to stand with the Turkish people for their right to access to information. “Access to information is a fundamental human right.  Turkish people I will always stand with you to fight for this right,” Wales tweeted.

“Turkey’s ban on Wikipedia is just the most recent example of their relentless global campaign to control what their own citizens can hear and what other countries can say,” Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian told the Armenian Weekly.

In the past, Turkey has temporarily blocked access to several popular sites—including YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter—especially in the wake of major events, which it has deemed threats to its national security.

 

3 Comments

  1. Turkey should be expelled from NATO, for the disingenuous, duplicitous, non-ally, and enabler of our enemies, that they are.

    Those Patriot batteries should be withdrawn to Europe, where they belong, and forward deployed to the Baltic States, and Poland, where they might do some good helping deter further Russian aggression.

    Then, we should arm the Kurds to the teeth (including the PKK), so they can establish their so well deserved, independent Kurdistan, carved from Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey.

    The Kurds will prove grateful, loyal, and stalwart allies; second in regional importance, only to the Israelis.

    • Agree with the expulsion of turkey from NATO. Unfortunately, it will not happen. NATO is gutless just as BAD as the UN and the other organisations that are currently trying to sort out the mess with the azeri’s who have broken every single ceasfire order. That mob too will not do anything – they just get paid for doing nothing. Amazing? not really! they just love wearing their suits and have meetings with no conclusive decisions.

  2. If this was Syria or Iran the media would be all over them. Hell,…. If The Republic of Armenia did such a thing then the European Union together with PACE and Human Rights Watch would admonish them.
    But as it’s Turkey a key NATO ally and has a large diaspora in Europe, who, to a large extent (particularly in Germany) support Erdogan then Europe will turn a blind eye.
    I remember when the riots broke out in Armenia a few years back and there was this electric Yerevan protest, it was all over the western media with Armenians calling the government of Armenia a regime. One should learn a few things from Turks, they mostly support their leaders and don’t bad mouth them, which in turn doesn’t give western powers an excuse to intervene and destabalise their country.

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