ACCESS TO AGOS WEBSITE DENIED “BY THE SYSTEM”

BIAnet.org

Jan 24 2012
Turkey

Access to the website of the Armenian Agos newspaper was temporarily
denied to students of schools affiliated with the Ministry of National
Education on 23 January. The Turkish Telecom blamed an error of the
system for the filtering of the website.

Istanbul – Ankara – BÄ°A News Center24 January 2012, Tuesday On Monday
(23 January), access to the website of the Armenian Agos newspaper
was temporarily denied at all schools affiliated with the Ministry
of National Education (MEB). Students who tried to access the site
encountered the message, “The Turkish Telecom blocked access to this
site upon the request of the MEB because of objectionable contents”.

Later that day, the Turkish Telecom made an announcement related to
the access block.

The company declared that access to personal websites and blogs
had been blocked upon the preferences defined by the ministry. The
website of the Agos newspaper was included in this filter because it
was perceived as part of this category by the system, it was announced.

It was also stated that access to the site was possible again after
the category of the site was changed as the result of an application
to the production company.

Tanrıkulu submits parliamentary question At the same time,
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul MP Sezgin
Tanrıkulu submitted a parliamentary question addressed to Minister
of Education Omer Dincer.

The petition was submitted before the explanatory announcement of the
Turkish Telecom was released. Tanrıkulu pointed to the fast increase
of oppressions in the field of the internet related to press freedom
and freedom of expression in Turkey. He interpreted the access ban
to the Agos newspaper as the latest example of these applications.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress