President of Turkey Abdullah Gul has used his Twitter account to voice his disapproval for some web blocking practices carried out in the country. Google services such as YouTube are subject to blocks because of content posted by users and deemed offensive by Turkish authorities.
Turkey blocked YouTube in 2008 after videos surfaced describing Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, as a homosexual and an alcoholic. The country has been scrutinized by human rights watchdogs who urge it to reform restrictive Internet laws unexpected of a country seeking membership of the European Union.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) revealed earlier this year that Turkey is blocking some 3,700 Internet sites for arbitrary and political reasons. Turkey, however, maintains that websites are blocked for offenses that include child pornography, encouraging suicide or insults against Kemal Ataturk.
“I know there are lots of complaints about bans on YouTube and Google,” President Gul said in a tweet. “I am definitely against them being closed down. I have ordered responsible institutions for a solution. I asked for a change in regulations on merit.”
Whether Gul’s stance on the issue will mean anything for Turkish Internet users remains to be seen as the office of President in the country is more or less symbolic, with real power being held by the Prime Minister.
Result for: turkish authorities
The giant video sharing site YouTube has removed a few video clips that had prompted Turkish authorities to Block access to the site in January. The company hopes the move will lead the Turkish authorities to open access to the site in a timely fashion.
In a statement the site says, “we reviewed the videos that led to the most recent ban on access and removed them because of their content, which violate YouTube’s content policy.”
The clips, which Turkish authorities alleged were disrespectful to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, are now removed but the site remains blocked. Under Turkish law, it is a federal crime to even insult Ataturk.
