Twitter Ban Lifted, YouTube Awaiting With Issues

While Turkish authorities lifted the twitter ban in Turkey, the situation of YouTube ban remained unclear as telecommunication authorities and courts made incompatible statements regarding the reason behind it.  

On the other hand, PM Erdoğan said while they need to follow the ruling to lift the twitter ban, they didn’t need to respect it. “I don’t respect this ruling,” he said. 

Twitter was banned for 14 days

Turkey’s twitter ban has been lifted last night after Constitutional Court ruled that the ban violated the freedom of expression. 

After a statement released by Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Communications, it is currently possible to log on to twitter without the assistance of VPNs. 

Telecommunications Authorities (TIB) also removed the court order regarding the twitter ban from its website.  

The twitter ban has been taken to Constitutional Court by an individual complaint submitted by academicians Yaman Akdeniz,  Kerem Altıparmak and Republican People’s Party Istanbul deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu.

YouTube still banned for 8 days 

On the other hand, the situation of YouTube ban remained unclear as telecommunication authorities and courts made incompatible statements regarding the reason behind it.

Previously, TIB released a detailed ruling saying that YouTube was banned within “crimes against Atatürk” - the first president of Turkey. 

However, Turkey’s Bar Associations Union (TBB) made a counter statement denying these allegations.  

According to that, YouTube has been banned within an investigation order by  Gölbaşı District Peace Court on “political and military espionage”. 

Altıparmak: TIB must clarify

According to Kerem Altıparmak, an assistant professor at Ankara University, the ruling on TBB website doesn’t rely on Law No 5651. 

The aforementioned law regulates the crimes against Ata­türk - the first president of Turkey.  

He also said the following on the ruling published on TIB website: 

“The ruling on TBB’s website doesn’t cite Law No 5651. Therefore there is no legal ground. It is then unlawful that TIB’s restriction depended on Law No 5651 Article 8. TIB authorities must clarify this.”

* bianet English complied this article from the following articles in bianet Turkish. 

http://www.bianet.org/bianet/medya/154710-iste-youtube-un-gercek-kapatilma-nedeni

http://www.bianet.org/bianet/medya/154697-twitter-erisime-acildi