Michelle Malkin brings to light a couple of rather ironic turn-of-events concerning YouTube, Turkey and even the U.S. Congress:
A court in Turkey on Wednesday ordered blockage of all access to YouTube, the popular video-sharing Web site, over a video deemed insulting to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.
The ban followed a week of what the media in Turkey dubbed a “virtual war” of videos between Greeks and Turks on YouTube and came as governments around the world — including France — grappled with the freewheeling content now readily posted on the Internet.
The largest Internet provider in Turkey, Turk Telecom, immediately complied with the ban and cut off access to the site.
“We are not in the position of saying that what YouTube did was an insult, that it was right or wrong,” Paul Doany, the chairman of Turk Telecom, told the state-run Anatolia news agency. “A court decision was proposed to us, and we are doing what that court decision says.”
Visitors to the site in Turkey on Wednesday afternoon were greeted with the message first in Turkish and then in English: “Access to www.youtube.com site has been suspended in accordance with decision no: 2007/384 dated 06.03.2007 of Istanbul First Criminal Peace Court.”
YouTube expressed dismay over the move, adding that the offending video had been removed and that the company was working with the government to resolve the situation.
“We are disappointed that YouTube has been blocked in Turkey,” the company said in a statement.
Free Speech shut down in the supposedly secular, Europeanized Islamic nation? Believe me when I tell you, it won’t be too much longer before Sharia Law reigns in Turkey.
If Islam is so good and true, why is it that Muslim clergy are so petrified at the thought of other religions praying, preaching and worshiping in their lands? Something about having a choice seems to really rub the mullahs the wrong way, and the closer to Mecca you get, the more violent the reaction.
And then Michelle lets this tidbit out of the bag:
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA-09), a member of the House Anti-Terrorism Caucus, introduced legislation urging owners of video-trading websites like You Tube to take action to remove jihadi propaganda videos.
“The war against Islamic radicalism is both a shooting war and a battle of ideology. Our enemies understand that they cannot defeat us face to face on the battleground, so they have created a new battlefield on the Internet,” Shuster said.
“Terrorists hope that by opening this new front, their view of the world will prevail. It is up to the owners and users of video-trading sites to remain vigilant and help to deny our enemies this victory,” Shuster said.
Jihadi terrorist organizations have long understood the benefits of the Internet to spread their cause. Jihadi sites allow terrorists to fundraise and distribute propaganda. They also facilitate the radicalization, recruitment and training of prospective terrorists. The popularity, ease of use, and negligible cost of video-sharing websites like YouTube and LiveLeak have provided yet another channel for terrorists to spread their ideology of hate.
Terrorist organizations including Al-Qaeda have set up sophisticated media operations whose mission is to create and distribute jihadi propaganda and training materials on the Internet.
Shuster’s legislation would express Congress’ desire to see the corporate owners of video-sharing website take action to remove jihadi videos from their sites. Additionally, the legislation encourages website owners to cooperate with law enforcement if their sites users are found to participate in terrorism.
“I doubt that the American public in World War II would have accepted the major media outlets of the time distributing Nazi propaganda at face value,” Shuster added. “Times have changed, media has evolved, but the fact remains – terrorists hope their supporters see these videos and are encouraged to attack Western interests. These videos aid the enemy and they must be confronted.”
Meanwhile, I’m confronting the community on YouTube with what I hope Congress will support.
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While I believe that the ban on YouTube in Turkey is unfortunate and a sign that freedom of speech is limited in the secular nation, I certainly wouldn’t coorelate the limitation on free speech to religious extremism in the country. Turkey will certainly never have Sharia law as you have stated. In fact, the country is almost militant in its secularism, by banning headscarves in government buildings, schools, and universities. Religious political parties are also banned and freedom of religion is defined in their constitution. You shouldn’t confuse liberalism with secularism. They are two very different things. Other countries in Europe have limitations on freedom of speech that some would find very extreme. Religious symbols are banned in schools and universities in France, making it just as illiberal as Turkey in that respect. My point is that Turkey did not ban YouTube because of a video that offended Islam, they banned YouTube because the video offended the Turkish nation. So its Turkish nationalism that should be the subject of your disapproval, not its religious bearings. By conflating the two, you only show the ignorance of your argument against Islam.
@John:
Truly?
Perhaps you’d like to explain reports like this then. My memory is pretty sharp on some things:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/013315.php
And, for the record, I did not confuse Turkish nationalism and Islamist activity. You are trying to put words in my mouth. I may not be omniscient, but my ignorance has its limits when it comes to the Middle East, and it’s shrinking by the hour.
Only ONE AP article that reports on ONE guy in Turkey saying there is an Islamist threat hardly makes that true. Especially when General Ilker Basbug only made that comment because the EU was pressuring Turkey to reform the miltiary and accusing the Turkish military of meddling in politics. General Ilker Basbug’s comment was a political move to try to gain support for the Turkish military at a time when the EU and the Turkish government were considering military reform. I haven’t seen General Ilker Basbug make those comments at any other time, and I haven’t seen any other articles that take an Islamist threat in Turkey seriously. Again….another example of Turkish nationalism standing in the way of liberal reform….NOT Islam.
[quote post=”485″]Again….another example of Turkish nationalism standing in the way of liberal reform….NOT Islam.[/quote]
If it weren’t for Turkish nationalism, that nation would be another Iran.
The Persians could use an injection of that spirit and tenacity.
Either way, all fascism and word-policing can check itself at the door when it comes to my vision of a free world; Islamist, militarist or otherwise.
But if we have to choose the lesser of two evils, I’ll take nationalism-run-amok any day next to the reign of Sharia via Islam. I’m willing to bet most Turks would agree, but that sizable Islamist minority is growing and I hardly believe that there’s only 1 AP report out there to substantiate that. If you want more, just go look at the Pope Rage articles again.
I’m writing from Turkey.
Youtube banned for carrying videos that insult the Secular Symbol of Turkey;Kemal Ataturk. Turkey has very strong secular traditions,and we young generation must defend our Secualrism. Though I am leftist and I can’t consider myself a nationalist,but I prefer nationalism instead of islamism. Because islamism means Arabization.Islamism means loosing our identity,islamism means betraying our past.It’s our task to carry out Ataturk’s big vision,Democratic SECULAR Turkey.
That’s our vision.
Turkey is Secular and will remain Secular.Islamist will never be able to destroy this country.
Cheers.
I’m not convinced.