Monthly Archives: February 2014

ISTANBUL: Turkey's prime minister hit back at suggestions that new Internet regulations will limit freedom of expression, ahead of a planned demonstration in Istanbul against the curbs on Saturday.

"These regulations do not impose any censorship at all on the Internet ... On the contrary, they make it safer and freer," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Istanbul.

He also denied that the regulations, passed by parliament late on Wednesday, meant that government authorities would have access to Internet users' personal information.

"Never. It is out of the question that people's private data will be recorded," said Erdogan, prime minister since 2003.

The new curbs provoked a storm of protest at home and abroad, with critics saying they were an attempt by Erdogan to stifle dissent and stop evidence of high-level corruption being seen online.

They give the telecoms authority the power to order a webpage blocked without the need for a court order if the content is deemed to infringe someone's privacy or as being offensive.

The timing in particular raised eyebrows because it comes as Erdogan deals with a major and deeply embarrassing corruption probe implicating members of his inner circle.

Human Rights Watch said the restrictions raise concerns that a "defensive government is seeking to increase its power to silence critics and to arbitrarily limit politically damaging material online."

European Parliament chief Martin Schulz called them a "step back in an already suffocating environment for media freedom", while Washington also expressed misgivings.

Erdogan has portrayed the investigation as a plot against him by people within the Turkish police and judiciary loyal to Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic preacher living in the United States.

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Erdogan says no Internet censorship in Turkey

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected claims that the countrys newly-adopted cyber law will limit freedom of expression.

"These regulations do not impose any censorship at all on the Internet.... On the contrary, they make it safer and freer," Erdogan said on Saturday.

The Turkish Parliament passed the law late on Wednesday, allowing the Telecommunications Communications Presidency (TIB) to block access to websites deemed to violate privacy or have insulting content without a court order.

The TIB could also request users communications and traffic information from providers with no court ruling.

The Turkish Premier also denied that the law would allow the government authorities to have access to internet users' personal information.

"Never. It is out of the question that people's private data will be recorded," he said. European Parliament chief Martin Schulz described the move as a step back in an already suffocating environment for media freedom."

The new measure came as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogans government has been embroiled in a corruption scandal.

Critics say Erdogans adoption of harsh measures is an attempt to contain the scandal probe involving some of his close allies.

Erdogan has denounced the probe as a plot to undermine his government ahead of the local elections in March, adding that the graft allegations against businesspersons and government officials are hindering the economic growth.

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No internet censorship in Turkey: PM

"These regulations do not impose any censorship at all on the Internet ... On the contrary, they make it safer and freer," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Istanbul.

He also denied that the regulations, passed by parliament late on Wednesday, meant that government authorities would have access to Internet users' personal information.

"Never. It is out of the question that people's private data will be recorded," said Erdogan, prime minister since 2003.

The new curbs provoked a storm of protest at home and abroad, with critics saying they were an attempt by Erdogan to stifle dissent and stop evidence of high-level corruption being seen online.

They give the telecoms authority the power to order a webpage blocked without the need for a court order if the content is deemed to infringe someone's privacy or as being offensive.

The timing in particular raised eyebrows because it comes as Erdogan deals with a major and deeply embarrassing corruption probe implicating members of his inner circle.

Human Rights Watch said the restrictions raise concerns that a "defensive government is seeking to increase its power to silence critics and to arbitrarily limit politically damaging material online."

European Parliament chief Martin Schulz called them a "step back in an already suffocating environment for media freedom", while Washington also expressed misgivings.

Erdogan has portrayed the investigation as a plot against him by people within the Turkish police and judiciary loyal to Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic preacher living in the United States.

His government has sacked or moved to different jobs thousands of police and prosecutors ahead of important local elections on March 30 which could determine whether he runs for president in August.

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PM says no Internet censorship in Turkey

Editor's Note: The following is an English-language translation of a press release from Tsentr UA, which founded the CHESNO movement, about a criminal investigation of its activities. CHESNO has been active in exposing alleged corruption by President Viktor Yanukovych and within his administration. It also started the "Stop Censorship" movement to reverse anti-free speech laws and regulations that Yanukovych's administration has supported. Police and prosecutors were not available for immediate comment.

The Interior Ministry is conducting a criminal investigation regarding the civic organization Tsentr UA on suspicion of money laundering of funds acquired illegally.

Organization members found this out after they and their organizations partners were approached en masse by police officers who asked them to give testimony or come to investigators offices. On Feb. 7, the police visited at least 10 people; in addition, they know that they plan on questioning about 200 people overall. The investigation was begun on Dec. 11, but it only became active now. All the people involved for the time being are being summoned as witnesses.

The members of Tsentr UA consider this criminal investigation to be a continuation of the regimes systematic repressions against civil society.

Oleh Rybachuk, leader of the organization, said that the dicatorship laws have been repealed, but the regimes dictatorial intentions to destroy active civic organizations is taking place in other forms. He surmised that similar cases will be brought up against other organizations in the near future.

Tsentr UA is the founder of the CHESNO movement, and it has been responsible for producing the scandalous film about Mezhyhirya, Open Access, and its members have taken active participation in EuroMaidan events.

Organization members have also been cofounders of important civic initiatives: the New Citizen partnership, the Stop Censorship! movement, the coalition, For an Honest Referendum, and others.

Also, Tsentr UA not long ago began a massive project investigating personal instances of corruption among all government officials, a project coordinated with journalists from Slidstvo.info and the Svidomo office. These materials, published for Ukrainska Pravda, concerned Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko in particular.

Svitlana Zalishchuk, executive director of Tsentr UA, pointed out that Tsentr UA regularly conducts an independent audit, including one required by Ukrainian laws on financial activities, and it takes pride in its transparency. We regard the criminal case as pressure and harrassment against us because of our professional activity.

The members of Tsentr UA appeal to diplomats, international organizations, and human rights organizations, and Ukrainian members of parliament to look into this pressure being put on the organization and its partners through a criminal case investigation connected with the organizations work and also call on Ukraines state organs to stop unjustified persecution of civic organizations.

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CHESNO, a leader in putting spotlight on alleged corruption, says it faces harassing criminal investigation of its ...