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| This image obtained from Dogan News Agency (DHA) shows Turkish police officers escorting people after their arrest for alleged links with US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen on April 26, 2017 in the central Turkish city of Kayseri. On April 29, 2017, Turkey passed two new decrees — one that expelled more than 4,000 civil servants and another that banned television dating programs. (Olcay DUZGUN / DOGAN NEWS AGENCY / AFP) |
ISTANBUL — Turkey passed two new decrees Saturday — one that expelled more than 4,000 civil servants and another that banned television dating programs.
A Turkish court, meanwhile, blocked access to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, the same day enforcing an earlier restriction by Turkey's telecommunications watchdog in a move that social media users called censorship.
The country's Official Gazette published the two new decrees Saturday evening.
The first named thousands of civil servants to be dismissed, including nearly 500 academics and more than 1,000 Turkish military personnel. It also reinstated 236 people to their jobs. The second decree, among other things, banned radio and television programs for "finding friends and spouses" by adding a clause to the article on protecting children in Turkey's media law. The shows will not be allowed to air without television content rating symbols.
Dating programs, which draw high ratings and large ad revenues, have been a hot topic this year. Petitions have called for their bans and lawmakers across the political spectrum have criticized the programs as having a negative influence on families. Government spokesman Numan Kurtulmus has described them as contrary to Turkish customs and religion.
The state of emergency that followed last summer's coup attempt has allowed the Turkish government to rule by decrees. Since then, more than 47,000 people have been arrested and 100,000 have been purged for alleged connections to terror organizations.
Turkey says US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen orchestrated the coup attempt. He denies the allegations.
WIKIPEDIA BLOCKED
The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) said an Ankara court ordered Saturday that a "protection measure" related to suspected internet crimes be applied to Wikipedia. Such measures are used to block access to pages or entire websites to protect "national security and public order."
Access to information is a fundamental human right. Turkish people I will always stand with you to fight for this right
Jimmy Wales, Founder, Wikipedia
In response, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales tweeted his support for those who labeled the decision censorship: "Access to information is a fundamental human right. Turkish people I will always stand with you to fight for this right."
Turkey Blocks, an internet censorship monitor, said users in Turkey have been unable to access all language editions of Wikipedia since 8:00 am Saturday.
"The loss of availability is consistent with internet filters used to censor content in the country," the monitor said.
The site had initially been blocked by BTK under a provisional administration measure.
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| In this Jan 18, 2012 file photo, a blackout landing page is displayed on a laptop computer screen inside the "Anti-Sopa War Room" at the offices of the Wikipedia Foundation in San Francisco. In a move that social media users called censorship, a Turkish court on April 29, 2017 blocked access to Wikipedia (Eric Risberg / AP) |
The exact reason for the ban remains unclear. But Turkey's official news agency, quoting the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, said Saturday the site was blocked for "becoming an information source acting with groups conducting a smear campaign against Turkey in the international arena."
The state-run Anadolu Agency said officials had warned Wikipedia to remove content likening Turkey to terror groups but the site "persistently" did not.
