TURKISH REPORTER WRITING ABOUT THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT BANNING YOUTUBE IN JANUARY 2008

http://istanbulian.blogspot.com/2008/01/man-bit-dog-youtube-is-online-in-turk...

The Istanbulian

Personal Chronicles of a Turkish Journalist

Saturday, January 26, 2008

The Man Bit the Dog

YouTube is online in Turkey today! After consequent court bans, the logic of the reporting YouTube stories has changed. Now it is news when YouTube is NOT banned.
As we're enjoying the YouTube connection nowadays, I would like to whisper a conspiracy theory, which can indeed be the truth: It is said that the real reason of the recent ban was not the videos that defame Ataturk.
The user who posted those videos has got other insulting videos against Turkish President Abdullah Gul and PM Tayyip Erdogan as well. The rumour is that the target of Turkish government was to avoid its people to see those clips. The cause about "protecting Ataturk" was just a pretext.
Well, I can easily believe in this theory, because Erdogan government has got a bad record when it comes to facing criticism. Sueing cartoonists, trying to prison journalists, etc...
By the way, I don't think that another YouTube ban would come into force in the near future, especially by relying on the same justification about Ataturk. Because a massive amount of Turkish users finally discovered the "Flag" option of YouTube. Just after the abolishing of the recent ban, thousands of Turkish users flagged those really disgusting videos as "inappropriate" and YouTube acted quickly to suspend the users. So there is no need for court decisions now, as long as the people keep reacting.
PS: Those YouTube users -who are sympathizing with the terrorist organization PKK- were kebab2008 and bourjhamoudkebab.

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[TheVideoTurk]

Why is this armenia worried about youtube being banned in Turkey? Armenians have this Turkish obsession, all the time they talk about this fake so called genocide and Turks, while Turks dont give a fuck about you

[Hayrenikizavag]

@TheVideoTurk lol the only people that were "worried" were the Turkish government who wanted the US government to hand the person who made the videos over to Turkey,so they banned youtube for their whole country because of ONE Armenian lol

SO let the people decide whos worried here lol

[Hayrenikizavag]

3/4/10 House panel approves Armenian genocide resolution The House Foreign Affairs Committee endorsed the resolution with a 23-22 vote Thursday, even though the Obama administration had urged Congress not to offend Turkey by approving it. The resolution now goes to the full House,...

Minutes after the vote, Turkey said it was recalling its ambassador from Washington..

LOOOL they got kicked out of youtube BY bourjhamoud and now kicked out of washington too lol

[mcturk17]

I DONT GET WAT THESE HATE BETWEEN ARMANIANS AND TURKS IS. THAT GENOCIDE SHIT IS CIA AND FBI PLAN. STOP BEING SO STUPID

[Turkish2023]

@Digdigs2

Yes I read your post, I dont understand the comparison with the crowded theatre. If you shout its public disorder.

In Turkey u cant approve the so called armenian genocide, in France u cant deny the so called genocide, yet nobody talks about France. We all know why they approve the so called genocide, the armenian lobbyists are behind it and the anti-Turkish sentiments in Europe. France should first condemn their genocide in Algeria before interfering with Turkish matters.

[Digdigs2]

@Turkish2023 Did you not read the posts below? Freedom of speech exists within a framework - else it would be untenable... you can't shout 'fire' in a crowded theatre, you can't make up or deny certain FACTS, but you are free to interpret them as you wish. Unlike Turkey, where you can't say certian FACTS...

[Turkish2023]

@Digdigs2

Still u can get arrested if you deny the Holocaust or believing in Armenian lies, insulting the Dutch queen, there was a columnist from Telegraaf who got arrested 3 years ago.

Allowing the Danish cartoons and opressing my right to deny something is what Europe is about.

I wish I could make a Hitler salute, or deny the Holocaust, NOT because I deny it, but bcoz I have the right to do it.

Allowing the cartoons is just a provocation cowardly hiding behind "freedom of speech" argument

[Digdigs2]

@Turkish2023 As far as lese majeste laws in europe go - they follow the same legal path as libel - there are strict tests imposed as to what qualifies - mere opinion does not, but an assertion of erroneous fact does ie

My boss is a moron - OK - assertion of opinion

My boss is a whore - not OK - assertion of erroneous fact

Just replace 'boss' with king/queen and it becomes lese majeste, but only in the second instance.

Freedom of speech is thus maintained - one can opine as much as one wants.

[Digdigs2]

@Digdigs2 The Danish cartoons were tasteless and childish, and I and you both have the right to say so, but not to ban their production - that is in itself childish.

There are specific laws regulating the denial of a holocaust - one can say "I believe it was a good thing", but one cannot deny that the events took place.

[Digdigs2]

@Turkish2023 French court stated "by concealing elements contrary to his opinion, he neglected his duties of objectivity & prudence." ie While a historian may make any claim they wish as to the reasons for an event they cannot hide or invent facts - it is for this he was fined, his assertion as to the 'what', not his opinion as to the 'why'. They fined him 1 franc, about 10cents. Read the case it is interesting reading as to duties of those in positions of power & the right to free speech

[Turkish2023]

@Digdigs2

Bernard Lewis got arrested in France for dennying the armenian genocide. You got arrested in England or Holland if you insult the queen, you get arrested in Europe if you deny or make a joke about the Holocaust, Hitler salute etc

Where is my freedom of speech in Europe? Europeans are really hypocrites, when it comes down to others, like making an insulting cartoon of the prophet of muslims, its freedom of speech. Provocations are unncessary.

But we'll see, this will have a rebound.

[Digdigs2]

@Turkish2023 Looks like we disagree on the facts of what happened. The point here though is free speech - banning youtube (which you are using) because of comments critical of a government goes against Article 19 UN charter of human rights. Turkey needs to recognise this if they wish to be treated as and considered as a civilized nation. I differ in opinion to you as to what happened in 1915, but I defend to the end your right to express your opinion - Turkey should grant others that courtesy

[Turkish2023]

@Digdigs2

Again, you are still talking to me as if we committed a crime. It was not a crime. What was done to us was a crime, the armenians forming gangs and terrorizing the eastern provinces behind Russian lines is a crime. Payback is a bitch.

The Turks were convicted in the Matla tribunals, so why did they let Turks go? Why Armenia cant take us to court? The armenians should ask themselves why they are shouting genocide in the first place. They themselves do not even know