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Turkish president rejects Facebook, YouTube ban over wiretaps
Source: Reuters
Turkish president rejects Facebook, YouTube ban over wiretaps
BY DAREN BUTLER AND HUMEYRA PAMUK
ISTANBUL Fri Mar 7, 2014 12:56pm EST
(Reuters) - Turkey's president on Friday ruled out any ban on Facebook and YouTube after Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the sites could be shut to stop his foes anonymously posting audio recordings purportedly exposing corruption in his inner circle.
In the latest recording, released on YouTube late on Thursday, Erdogan is purportedly heard berating a newspaper owner over the telephone about an article and suggesting the journalists be sacked, in comments that will further stoke concerns over media freedom and Erdogan's authoritarian style of leadership.
Erdogan, who rejects any accusations of corruption, blames U.S.-based Turkish Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, a former ally, for the wiretaps which he says have been "fabricated". Gulen, who denies any involvement, has many followers in Turkey, especially in the police and judiciary.
President Abdullah Gul, a co-founder of Erdogan's ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party, said freedom of expression was an important value buttressed by the government's own reforms.
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BY DAREN BUTLER AND HUMEYRA PAMUK
ISTANBUL Fri Mar 7, 2014 12:56pm EST
(Reuters) - Turkey's president on Friday ruled out any ban on Facebook and YouTube after Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the sites could be shut to stop his foes anonymously posting audio recordings purportedly exposing corruption in his inner circle.
In the latest recording, released on YouTube late on Thursday, Erdogan is purportedly heard berating a newspaper owner over the telephone about an article and suggesting the journalists be sacked, in comments that will further stoke concerns over media freedom and Erdogan's authoritarian style of leadership.
Erdogan, who rejects any accusations of corruption, blames U.S.-based Turkish Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, a former ally, for the wiretaps which he says have been "fabricated". Gulen, who denies any involvement, has many followers in Turkey, especially in the police and judiciary.
President Abdullah Gul, a co-founder of Erdogan's ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party, said freedom of expression was an important value buttressed by the government's own reforms.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/07/us-turkey-erdogan-idUSBREA2609A20140307
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