Petition launched to unblock WordPress in Turkey

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  uploaded by Jim Colella | add comment

ISTANBUL:    With the WordPress block in Turkey showing no signs of abating, the MidEast Youth project has launched a petition urging the Turkish authorities to reconsider their ban. The fourth largest blog site in the world boasting nearly 1.4 million blogs, with 12 million page views per month coming from Turkish readers alone, is currently the subject of a nationwide block due to a private "defamation" lawsuit by controversial religious leader Adnan Oktar.

With the recent landslide re-election of the Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AK Party) highlighting their success at having passed sweeping EU accession inspired reforms over the last five years, the ban -- whilst in keeping with Turkish legal norms -- has outraged many in the Internet community and seemingly contradicts the government's own pro-freedom of speech stance.

MidEast Youth, describing themselves as "a student-owned independent network dedicated to eliminate extremist ideologies and ignorance from the Middle East," are now spearheading the fight to lift the block.

"Banning WordPress is a clear violation of free speech that effects the
citizens of Turkey, WordPress bloggers, and readers all over the world," state the MidEast Youth project, adding,
"Certainly these disputes can be handled more judiciously by the Turkish
courts."

Anyone wishing to add their signature to the petition can follow the link below. Free-to-distribute logos and banners promoting the cause are also available on the Mideast Youth site.

MidEast Youth "Petition to Unblock WordPress in Turkey"