Turkish PM Erdogan: "I am increasingly against the internet every day."

[Thanatos]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...y-9772048.html

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has defended his government’s efforts to control online speech, telling a press freedom conference: “I am increasingly against the Internet every day.”Mr Erdoğan’s comments came during an “unprecedented” meeting with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI).

The meeting, which also included Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdağ, took place as the Turkish parliament voted on military action in Syria.

Turkey’s leaders "aggressively" defended its record on press freedom during the 90-minute conference, and criticised various media outlets for “polarising and distorting coverage of recent events” such as the Gezi Park anti-government rallies.


Local newspapers and major publications such as The New York Times and CNN International were among those slammed by officials, according to the CPJ. The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has defended his government’s efforts to control online speech, telling a press freedom conference: “I am increasingly against the Internet every day.”

Mr Erdoğan’s comments came during an “unprecedented” meeting with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI).

The meeting, which also included Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdağ, took place as the Turkish parliament voted on military action in Syria.
Turkey’s leaders "aggressively" defended its record on press freedom during the 90-minute conference, and criticised various media outlets for “polarising and distorting coverage of recent events” such as the Gezi Park anti-government rallies.

Local newspapers and major publications such as The New York Times and CNN International were among those slammed by officials, according to the CPJ. "Media should never have been given the liberty to insult," Mr Erdoğan was quoted as saying during the 90-minute meeting.


He also expressed concern that criminal and terrorist organisations such as the Islamic State go online to recruit followers, saying he is "increasingly against" the internet.

Boo. The freaking. Hoo.

[Dante Von Hespburg]

The reasons listed...i just... so much fail. That has to be the flimsiest pretext yet for a want-to-be dictator to begin curtailing freedom of information and speech in his prospective kingdom. It's like these modern autocrats don't even try anymore

[Stavroforos]

He's the President now, Thanatos!

And it seems that Erdogan is increasingly against any freedom every day, but good luck getting the usual goonsquad for freedom in other countries to talk about it.

[Thanatos]

It's hilarious, because he even looks like a mini-Hitler. Look at that 'stache, man.

[Stavros_Kalmpou]

Hasn't he already banned Twitter, or am I wrong here?

[Phier]

I'm really disappointed they are not in the EU, it would have been hilarious as an outsider.

[Condottiere 40K]

He plays to his base, which apparently is large enough to keep him elected.

[Roma_Victrix]

He plays to his base, which apparently is large enough to keep him elected.

Erdogan...proof that democracy and a fully free press do not always go hand in hand. One can be divorced from the other, or at least Erdogan is attempting to do that and count on the fact that his base will remain ignorant about his monumental nepotism and corruption. Of course, curtailing freedoms of the press and access to the Internet is all part and parcel of keeping his base ignorant.

[Dante Von Hespburg]

I'm really disappointed they are not in the EU, it would have been hilarious as an outsider.

This is actually a very good point, i'd be amused to see how the EU reconciles things like this from Erdogan, and yet still both states are engaged in the EU accession negotiations:

http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/coun...y/index_en.htm

As you can see their literally carrying on regardless. Does the EU ignore the recent statements from Erdogan regardless -This isn't the first time he's done something like this), this article rather sums it up nicely- It's not that Erdogan isn't a dictator... more that he aspires to be one, but faces opposition from the democratic infrastructure of Turkey.

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/orig...lections.html#

Or should there be a serious re-look at Turkey's admission to the EU under it's current leader. Who apparently is quite popular?

[Phier]

One could argue that for humanitarian reasons, having Turkey in the EU might do them some good in preventing real abuse of power in the future. Turkey is one of those countries that feels like it could go "either way" but thats only as a complete outsider.

[Geronimo2006]

Hasn't he already banned Twitter, or am I wrong here?

Yes but I think the courts overturned the ban.

[6th Vigil]

I'm really disappointed they are not in the EU, it would have been hilarious as an outsider.

Don't need Turkey to join for that. Hungary is attempting to head in that direction at a slower pace.

[PlPs]

Hail Erdogan!

[hellheaven1987]

I'm really disappointed they are not in the EU, it would have been hilarious as an outsider.

Wasn't Hungarian PM said the similar thing last year?

[Papay]

Still Turkey is in far better position today compared to the 90s or the 80s

[PlPs]

Still Turkey is in far better position today compared to the 90s or the 80s

Erdogan is the best leader in Turkish history without a single question. Do you have any idea what are they doing? People's life changed in better way, far far better. Do you have any idea what changed and still changing in Turkey?

kemalists era is done! Hail Erdogan and New Turkey.

If Erdogan leave Turkey the kemalists again, they will ban more things than Erdogan do. Erdogan removing bans in Turkey and those bloody kemalists are minority. They keep whining about Erdogan and wanting help from "Civilized" countries. Like Davutoglu said "We are grandchildren of Ahiyan-ı Rum and Bacıyan-ı Rum (Brothers of Rome and Sisters of Rome)

In short, 4th Rome is coming, be ready!

[Condottiere 40K]

Since Moscow is supposedly Rome Number Three, Putin may throw a wrench in that scheme.

[sevisenturk]

nothing new here. he hates the internet because he can't control it. His party is even employing internet trolls for around 20 dollars a day.

[Tureuki]

Yes but I think the courts overturned the ban.

The last court which can still oppose their nutty decisions and overturn them is under attacj currently, they're trying to replace current members with their own.

[Phier]

Like Davutoglu said "We are grandchildren of Ahiyan-ı Rum and Bacıyan-ı Rum (Brothers of Rome and Sisters of Rome)

In short, 4th Rome is coming, be ready!

I find this horribly ironic.....