block of Wikipedia in Turkey

Some countries have faulted Turkey for funding Islamist rebel groups in Syria, including al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, the al-Nusra Front.{{cite news |title=Joe Biden apologised over IS remarks, but was he right? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29528482 |work=BBC News |date=7 October 2014 |access-date=10 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020122203/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29528482 |archive-date=20 October 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-crisis-turkey-and-saudi-arabia-shock-western-countries-by-supporting-antiassad-jihadists-10242747.html|title=Turkey and Saudi Arabia alarm the West by backing Islamist extremists the Americans had bombed in Syria|author=Kim Sengupta|newspaper=The Independent|date=12 May 2015|access-date=19 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513214636/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-crisis-turkey-and-saudi-arabia-shock-western-countries-by-supporting-antiassad-jihadists-10242747.html|archive-date=13 May 2015|url-status=live}} In October 2014, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said that Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE had "poured hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of tons of weapons into anyone who would fight against Al-Assad".{{cite news |title=Joe Biden Is the Only Honest Man in Washington |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/10/07/joe-biden-is-the-only-honest-man-in-washington/ |work=Foreign Policy |date=7 October 2014 |access-date=10 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215040216/https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/10/07/joe-biden-is-the-only-honest-man-in-washington/ |archive-date=15 December 2019 |url-status=live }}

The block occurred on 29 April 2017, two weeks after the Turkish constitutional referendum, which was held on 16 April.

On 25 April, Turkey conducted several airstrikes on YPG, YPJ, and PKK facilities in both Syria and Iraq (Sinjar). 40 militants, including five Peshmerga soldiers, were killed at Iraq's Sinjar Mountains, and more than 20 YPG and YPJ fighters were killed on Syria's Mount Karakoc.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-may-hit-ypg-in-syria-all-of-a-sudden-president-erdogan.aspx?PageID=238&NID=112570|title=Turkey may hit YPG in Syria 'all of a sudden': President Erdoğan|newspaper=Hürriyet Daily News|date=30 April 2017|access-date=8 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016122550/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-may-hit-ypg-in-syria-all-of-a-sudden-president-erdogan.aspx?PageID=238&NID=112570|archive-date=16 October 2017|url-status=live}} The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) threatened to withdraw from the operation to capture Raqqa if the United States did not take measures to stop Turkey's airstrikes against the group.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrttv.com/en/Details.aspx?Jimare=14156|title=YPG threatens to withdraw from Raqqa ops amid Turkish attacks|date=28 April 2017|publisher=NRT TV|access-date=28 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816005200/http://www.nrttv.com/en/Details.aspx?Jimare=14156|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=live}} In response, the US began to patrol the border alongside SDF troops in order to force a ceasefire between its two allies.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cp24.com/world/turkey-u-s-move-armored-vehicles-onto-either-side-of-syrian-border-1.3390978|title=Turkey, U.S. move armored vehicles onto either side of Syrian border|first1=Zeynep1|last1=Bilginsoy|first2=Sarah El|last2=Deeb|work=CP24|date=29 April 2017|access-date=29 April 2017|language=en-CA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429234538/http://www.cp24.com/world/turkey-u-s-move-armored-vehicles-onto-either-side-of-syrian-border-1.3390978|archive-date=29 April 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://aranews.net/2017/04/turkey-attacks-rojava-to-impede-anti-isis-operations-in-raqqa-western-sdf-volunteer/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429050834/http://www.aranews.net/2017/04/turkey-attacks-rojava-to-impede-anti-isis-operations-in-raqqa-western-sdf-volunteer/|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 April 2017|title=Turkey attacks Rojava to impede anti-ISIS operations in Raqqa: Western SDF volunteer - ARA News|date=30 April 2017|work=ARA News|access-date=30 April 2017|language=en-US}}

On 26 April, continuing the purges that started in 2016, 1,009 police officers were detained based on accusations of being secretly involved with the Gülenist network within the Turkish police force.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/world/europe/turkey-1000-coup-gulen.html|title=Over 1,000 People Are Detained in Raids in Turkey|last=Kingsley|first=Patrick|date=26 April 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=29 April 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428083611/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/world/europe/turkey-1000-coup-gulen.html|archive-date=28 April 2017|url-status=live}} 9,100 officers have been suspended.{{Cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2017/04/26/purges-en-turquie-plus-de-9-000-policiers-suspendus_5118231_3218.html|title=Purges en Turquie : plus de 9 000 policiers suspendus|date=26 April 2017|work=Le Monde|access-date=29 April 2017|language=fr|issn=1950-6244|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430080058/http://www.lemonde.fr//proche-orient/article/2017/04/26/purges-en-turquie-plus-de-9-000-policiers-suspendus_5118231_3218.html|archive-date=30 April 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-expulsions-idUSKBN17V0MH|title=Turkey fires 3,900 in second post-referendum purge|date=29 April 2017|publisher=Reuters|access-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429183959/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-expulsions-idUSKBN17V0MH|archive-date=29 April 2017|url-status=live}} On 29 April, 3,974 more civil servants were dismissed. Media outlets and reporters were heavily targeted; 190 news organizations were banned and at least 120 journalists were imprisoned. Together with the ban of Wikipedia and television dating game shows, The New York Times described the moves as "an expand[ing] crackdown on dissent and free expression".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/30/world/europe/turkey-purge-wikipedia-tv-dating-shows.html|title=Turkey Purges 4,000 More Officials, and Blocks Wikipedia|last=Kingsley|first=Patrick|date=30 April 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=30 April 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501024117/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/30/world/europe/turkey-purge-wikipedia-tv-dating-shows.html|archive-date=1 May 2017|url-status=live}}

Law No. 5651, known as the Internet Act (IA), was enacted on 4 May 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/details.jsp?id=11035|title=Turkey: Law No. 5651 on Regulating Broadcasting in the Internet and Fighting Against Crimes Committed through Internet Broadcasting|publisher=WIPO|language=en|access-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629004941/http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/details.jsp?id=11035|archive-date=29 June 2017|url-status=live}} The purpose of this law was described by the now-defunct Presidency of Telecommunication and Communication as follows: "There are two reasons for the law to be brought. The first reason: to determine the liability and the responsibility of collective use providers, access providers, location providers, and content providers, which are the main actors of the Internet. The other reason is to determine the procedures and fundamentals related to the specific crimes committed over the Internet and fighting these through content, location and access providers."{{cite web|last=Presidency of Telecommunication, communication|first=PTC|title=Information about the regulations of the content of the Internet|url=http://m.tib.gov.tr/en/en-menu-47-information_about_the_regulations_of_the_content_of_the_internet.html|publisher=PTC|access-date=22 March 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140322223329/http://m.tib.gov.tr/en/en-menu-47-information_about_the_regulations_of_the_content_of_the_internet.html|archive-date=22 March 2014|url-status=dead}} More recently, the law has been used to censor individuals, journalists and the media.{{Cite book|url=http://www.cyber-rights.org/reports/internet_restricted_bw.pdf|title=Internet : restricted access : a critical assessment of Internet content regulation and censorship in Turkey|last1=Yaman|first1=Akdeniz|last2=Kerem|first2=Altiparmak|date=November 2008|publisher=Imaj Kitabevi & Imaj Yayinevi|isbn=9789758752652|oclc=488655521|access-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717171437/http://www.cyber-rights.org/reports/internet_restricted_bw.pdf|archive-date=17 July 2016|url-status=live}} As of June 2017, at least 127,000 websites are estimated to have been blocked in Turkey, along with another 95,000 individual web pages.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/10/world/europe/turkey-wikipedia-ban-recep-tayyip-erdogan.html|title=Turks Click Away, but Wikipedia Is Gone|last=Kingsley|first=Patrick|work=The New York Times|date=10 June 2017|access-date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613203502/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/10/world/europe/turkey-wikipedia-ban-recep-tayyip-erdogan.html|archive-date=13 June 2017|url-status=live}} According to the 2018 Web Report of the Freedom of Expression Association ({{lang|tr|İfade Özgürlüğü Derneği}}) access to 245,826 websites was blocked in Turkey by the end of 2018, with access to a total of 54,904 websites and domain names blocked in 2018 alone.{{Cite web|url=https://ifade.org.tr/reports/EngelliWeb_2018_Eng.pdf|title=Engelli Web 2018 Report|website=İfade Özgürlüğü Derneği|access-date=22 January 2020|archive-date=13 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113195301/https://ifade.org.tr/reports/EngelliWeb_2018_Eng.pdf|url-status=live}}

On the morning of 29 April 2017, following news from Turkey Blocks that all language editions of Wikipedia had been blocked in Turkey, several websites published articles about the event.{{cite web|url=http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2017/04/turkey-blocks-wikipedia-as-threat-to-national-security.php|title=Turkey blocks Wikipedia as threat to national security|work=Jurist|language=en|date=29 April 2017|access-date=8 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429215437/http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2017/04/turkey-blocks-wikipedia-as-threat-to-national-security.php|archive-date=29 April 2017|url-status=live}} Reuters and the BBC reported that the Turkish authorities had blocked all access to Wikipedia in the country beginning at 5:00 AM GMT. Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority simply stated: "After technical analysis and legal consideration based on the Law Nr. [sic] 5651 [governing the internet], an administrative measure has been taken for this website."{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-internet-wikipedia-idUSKBN17V06Q|title=Turkey blocks access to Wikipedia|date=29 April 2017|publisher=Reuters|access-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429083222/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-internet-wikipedia-idUSKBN17V06Q|archive-date=29 April 2017|url-status=live}}

Users reported that they could only access Wikipedia using tools such as private VPNs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/de/t%C3%BCrkei-blockiert-wikipedia-zugang/a-38637209|title=Türkei blockiert Wikipedia-Zugang|publisher=Deutsche Welle|language=de|date=29 April 2017|access-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429140355/http://www.dw.com/de/t%C3%BCrkei-blockiert-wikipedia-zugang/a-38637209|archive-date=29 April 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.focus.de/politik/ausland/internet-zensur-unter-erdogan-tuerkische-regierung-blockiert-wikipedia_id_7051698.html|title=Internet-Zensur unter Erdogan: Türkei blockiert Wikipedia|work=FOCUS Online|date=29 April 2017|access-date=29 April 2017|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503075210/http://www.focus.de/politik/ausland/internet-zensur-unter-erdogan-tuerkische-regierung-blockiert-wikipedia_id_7051698.html|archive-date=3 May 2017|url-status=live}}

Deep packet inspection was one of the methods used to block access to Wikipedia.{{cite news |title=Middleboxes in Turkish telecom redirecting users to nation-state spyware |url=https://www.scmagazineuk.com/middleboxes-turkish-telecom-redirecting-users-nation-state-spyware/article/1473070 |date=14 March 2018 |access-date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415120213/https://www.scmagazineuk.com/middleboxes-turkish-telecom-redirecting-users-nation-state-spyware/article/1473070 |archive-date=15 April 2019 |url-status=live}}

Voice of America reported that Turkish media had explained the block was a result of "terror-related content".{{Cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/monitors-turkey-blocks-access-to-wikipedia/3830869.html|title=Monitors: Turkey Blocks Access to Wikipedia|publisher=VOA|date=29 April 2017|access-date=29 April 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429112017/http://www.voanews.com/a/monitors-turkey-blocks-access-to-wikipedia/3830869.html|archive-date=29 April 2017|url-status=live}} Referring to an email statement made by the Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ministry, Turkish News source Anadolu Agency reported that the block was due to its articles and comments describing Turkey's alleged involvement with terror groups. The ministry said, "Instead of coordinating against terrorism, it has become part of an information source which is running a smear campaign against Turkey in the international arena."{{Cite web|url=http://aa.com.tr/en/science-technology/turkey-wikipedia-blocked-for-disregarding-the-law/808072|title=Turkey: Wikipedia blocked for disregarding the law|website=Anadolu Agency|date=29 April 2017|access-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429173452/http://aa.com.tr/en/science-technology/turkey-wikipedia-blocked-for-disregarding-the-law/808072|archive-date=29 April 2017|url-status=live}}

After court objection by Istanbul Bilgi University professor Yaman Akdeniz, the Ankara 2nd Civil Court of Peace said that the causes of the block were the following articles on the English Wikipedia:{{Cite news|url=http://www.amerikaninsesi.com/a/wikipedia-turkiye-icin-sansur-uygulayacak-mi/3836245.html|title=Wikipedia Türkiye İçin 'Sansür' Uygulayacak mı?|last=Yazıcıoğlu|first=Yıldız|work=Amerikanın Sesi|date=3 May 2017|language=tr|access-date=6 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506204904/http://www.amerikaninsesi.com/a/wikipedia-turkiye-icin-sansur-uygulayacak-mi/3836245.html|archive-date=6 May 2017|url-status=live}}

• {{sectionlink|State-sponsored terrorism|Turkey}}
• {{sectionlink|Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War|Turkey}}

On 11 May 2017, Turkish Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan cited Wikipedia's featuring "content creating a perception that Turkey is supporting terrorist organizations" as a reason for the block.{{cite web|title=Turkey warned Wikipedia over content, demands it open office: minister|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-internet-wikipedia-idUSKBN1870RB|publisher=Reuters|access-date=14 May 2017|date=11 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511193127/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-internet-wikipedia-idUSKBN1870RB|archive-date=11 May 2017|url-status=live}}

According to a BBC report, the Hürriyet daily newspaper said that Ankara had asked Wikipedia to remove the offending content, adding that the access ban would be lifted if Wikipedia met Turkey's demands. Later in the day, the provisional "administrative measure" was replaced by a court order, issued by the Ankara 1st Criminal Court of Peace, blocking Wikipedia as a "protective measure".

According to a report by the Anadolu Agency, the country "has a history of demanding that international websites take such steps as having a representative office in the country, complying with principles of international law, implementing court rulings, and not being part of any smear campaign or operation in Turkey".

On 3 May 2017, the Wikimedia Foundation submitted an objection to the block to Ankara's 1st Penal Court of Peace,{{Cite web|url=http://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/wikipedia-takes-the-first-legal-step-against-turkey-s-ban-157904.html|title=Wikipedia takes the first legal step against Turkey's ban|website=Birgün Daily|date=3 May 2017|access-date=4 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509063207/http://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/wikipedia-takes-the-first-legal-step-against-turkey-s-ban-157904.html|archive-date=9 May 2017|url-status=dead}} but it was rejected by the court on 5 May.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ensonhaber.com/wikipedia-itirazi-reddedildi.html|title=Wikipedia itirazı reddedildi|website=Ensonhaber|language=tr|date=5 May 2017|access-date=5 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506093502/http://www.ensonhaber.com/wikipedia-itirazi-reddedildi.html|archive-date=6 May 2017|url-status=live}} The ruling stated that the country-wide block would continue as the "offending" pages had not been removed. The head of Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority, Omer Fatih Sayan, explained: "It is not possible to open access to Wikipedia so long as the decisions are not implemented."{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/05/05/turkey-wikipedia-censorship/|title=Turkish court backs censorship of Wikipedia|author=LeFebvre, Rob|publisher=engadget|date=5 May 2017|access-date=13 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509091153/https://www.engadget.com/2017/05/05/turkey-wikipedia-censorship/|archive-date=9 May 2017|url-status=live}} The same day, the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) published the following official statement:{{cite tweet|author=BTK|user=BTKbasin|number=858628447278694401|date=30 April 2017|title=BTK official statement on twitter}} Retrieved 16 January 2020

• Despite all the efforts, the content that falsely claims Turkey's support for terrorist organizations was not removed from Wikipedia.
• This content was not allowed to be edited with accurate information.
• Since Wikipedia broadcasts in HTTPS protocol, it is technically impossible to filter by individual URLs to block only relevant content.
• Therefore, the entire Wikipedia content had to be filtered.
• Wikipedia editors must do what is necessary for this and similar content.

On 2 May 2017, Istanbul Municipality removed Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, from the guest list at the World Cities Expo event on smart cities to be held in the city from 15 to 18 May 2017, making the following announcement: "Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales was disinvited [sic] from the 'World Cities Expo Event' and the decision has been communicated to him. Respectfully announced to the public."{{Cite web|url=https://turkeypurge.com/turkey-disinvites-wikipedia-founder-from-istanbul-expo|title=Days after banning Wikipedia, Turkey disinvites founder from Istanbul expo|publisher=Turkey Purge|language=en-US|date=2 May 2017|access-date=3 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728163251/https://turkeypurge.com/turkey-disinvites-wikipedia-founder-from-istanbul-expo|archive-date=28 July 2017|url-status=live}} Wales had hoped to attend despite the Wikipedia block, commenting: "I am looking forward to the visit. Istanbul is one of my favorite cities."{{Cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/wikimedia-foundation-appeals-court-ruling-blocking-wikipedia-in-turkey.aspx?pageID=238&nID=112630|title=Wikimedia Foundation appeals court ruling blocking Wikipedia in Turkey|last=Can|first=Ahmet|website=Hürriyet Daily|date=2 May 2017|access-date=3 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002070548/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/wikimedia-foundation-appeals-court-ruling-blocking-wikipedia-in-turkey.aspx?pageID=238&nID=112630|archive-date=2 October 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/istanbul-cancels-invite-for-wikipedia-founder-jimmy-wales-after-ban/a-38661600|title=Istanbul cancels invite for Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales after ban|language=en|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=2 May 2017|access-date=3 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502141633/http://www.dw.com/en/istanbul-cancels-invite-for-wikipedia-founder-jimmy-wales-after-ban/a-38661600|archive-date=2 May 2017|url-status=live}}

In Turkey, Republican People's Party (CHP) parliamentarians criticized the block, with Eren Erdem stating that the ban puts "Turkey in line with North Korea" and Barış Yarkadaş calling it "censorship and a violation of the right to access information".{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-turkey-wikipedia-20170429-story.html|title=Access to Wikipedia blocked by government in Turkey|last=Bilginsoy|first=Zeynep|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=29 April 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429145848/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-turkey-wikipedia-20170429-story.html|archive-date=29 April 2017|url-status=live}} In a tweet made on the first day of the block, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales expressed his support for those criticizing the decision as censorship, saying "Access to information is a fundamental human right. Turkish people I will always stand with you to fight for this right."{{cite tweet|last=Wales|first=Jimmy|user=jimmy_wales|number=858318136717656064|date=29 April 2017|title=Access to information is a fundamental human right. Turkish people I will always stand with you to fight for this right. #turkey}}{{Cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/access-wikipedia-blocked-turkey-47102196|title=Turkish court formally blocks access to Wikipedia|work=ABC News|date=29 April 2017|access-date=29 April 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502161015/http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/access-wikipedia-blocked-turkey-47102196|archive-date=2 May 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet|last=Wales|first=Jimmy|user=jimmy_wales|number=858317740616032256|date=29 April 2017|title=Access to information is a fundamental human right. Turkish people, I will always stand with you and fight for this right. #turkey}} The Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia, stated that it was committed to keeping the site available in Turkey and pushing for a "judicial review" of the decision.{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/29/turkey-blocks-wikipedia/|title=Turkey blocks Wikipedia over an alleged 'smear campaign'|website=Engadget|date=29 April 2017|access-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429234802/https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/29/turkey-blocks-wikipedia/|archive-date=29 April 2017|url-status=live}}

File:Italian Wikipedia against Turkey's censorship (Screenshot 2017-05-08).jpg against Turkey's censorship]]

On 9 January 2018, Republican People's Party deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu submitted a written parliamentary question regarding the block of Wikipedia, saying that it was against the Turkish constitution and European Convention on Human Rights, and that "the block should be partial according to Turkish laws". Minister of transport, maritime and communication Ahmet Arslan denied that Wikipedia was blocked completely and stated that the Wikipedia block was just partial due to Article 22 of the Constitution of Turkey and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yeniakit.com.tr/haber/bakan-arslandan-flas-wikipedia-aciklamasi-411883.html|title=Bakan Arslan'dan flaş Wikipedia açıklaması|website=yeniakit|language=tr|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609165855/https://www.yeniakit.com.tr/haber/bakan-arslandan-flas-wikipedia-aciklamasi-411883.html|archive-date=9 June 2019|url-status=live}}

NDTV said that the move caused strong reactions on social media against the decision to deny access to "one of the world's most popular websites".{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/turkish-authorities-block-access-to-wikipedia-monitor-1687466|title=Turkish Authorities Block Access To Wikipedia: Monitor|publisher=NDTV|date=29 April 2017|access-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812045622/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/turkish-authorities-block-access-to-wikipedia-monitor-1687466|archive-date=12 August 2019|url-status=live}}

Six months into the block, Wikimedia Foundation Communication Director Juliet Barbara published an article about the efforts to remove the access ban.{{cite web | title = Six months later: People of Turkey still denied access to Wikipedia | url = https://blog.wikimedia.org/2017/11/01/turkey-wikipedia-block/ | last = Barbara | first = Juliet | website = Wikimedia Vakfı | access-date = 7 November 2017 | language = en-EN | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180306002149/https://blog.wikimedia.org/2017/11/01/turkey-wikipedia-block/ | archive-date = 6 March 2018 | url-status = live }}

File:Vikipedi'yiÖzledik.png

A year and a day into the block, on 30 April 2018, Good Party, in a reference to the 2018 Turkish general election, vowed to host the "reopening of Wikipedia" with "all of Turkey's citizens" on the day after snap elections on 24 June.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/iyi-party-vows-to-reopen-access-to-wikipedia-if-elected-131103|title=İYİ Party vows to reopen access to Wikipedia if elected|publisher=Hurriyet Daily News|date=30 April 2018|access-date=30 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609165855/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/iyi-party-vows-to-reopen-access-to-wikipedia-if-elected-131103|archive-date=9 June 2019|url-status=live}}

Muharrem İnce, CHP's presidential candidate for the 2018 Turkish presidential election, also vowed to reopen Wikipedia during one of his campaign speeches on 22 May 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/you-will-tweet-freely-if-i-am-elected-chp-candidate-ince-132220|title=You will tweet freely if I am elected: CHP candidate İnce|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=22 May 2018 |language=en|access-date=7 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609165855/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/you-will-tweet-freely-if-i-am-elected-chp-candidate-ince-132220|archive-date=9 June 2019|url-status=live}} However, the election was won by the incumbent, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Viewing Wikipedia content that is not Turkish was possible with use of the Opera browser, as it has a built-in VPN. Alternatively the Turkish- and English-language mirror website TurkceWiki.org, which is unaffiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation, was among several Wikipedia mirrors available to Turkish users unable to access Wikipedia.{{cite web |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/pirate-wikipedia-launched-in-turkey-after-access-ban.aspx?pageID=238&nID=117695&NewsCatID=374 |title='Pirate' Wikipedia launched in Turkey after access ban - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY |publisher=Hurriyetdailynews.com |date=13 September 2011 |access-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914034821/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/pirate-wikipedia-launched-in-turkey-after-access-ban.aspx?pageID=238&nID=117695&NewsCatID=374 |archive-date=14 September 2017 |url-status=live }} This mirror site, nevertheless, omitted the "offending" sections that the Turkish authorities wanted removed from WikipediaSee [http://en.turkcewiki.org/wiki/Foreign_involvement_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War article "Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171729/http://en.turkcewiki.org/wiki/Foreign_involvement_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War |date=28 December 2017 }}; and [http://en.turkcewiki.org/wiki/State-sponsored_terrorism article "State-sponsored terrorism"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171732/http://en.turkcewiki.org/wiki/State-sponsored_terrorism |date=28 December 2017 }}; – both articles on en.turkcewiki.org{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlestar.net/2017/06/mirror-websites-are-helping-turkish-users-reconnect-to-wikipedia/|title=Mirror Websites Are Helping Turkish Users Reconnect to Wikipedia|last=Geybullayeva|first=Arzu|date=29 June 2017|work=The Seattle Star|access-date=22 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904014057/http://www.seattlestar.net/2017/06/mirror-websites-are-helping-turkish-users-reconnect-to-wikipedia/|archive-date=4 September 2017|url-status=live}} and some features such as the left sidebar.

Activists also created a copy of Turkish Wikipedia on the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS)—a way of addressing web content which the Turkish government could not block due to its usage of decentralized open-source technology.{{cite web|title=Turkey Can't Block This Copy of Wikipedia|url=http://observer.com/2017/05/turkey-wikipedia-ipfs/|publisher=Observer|access-date=14 May 2017|date=10 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018092720/http://observer.com/2017/05/turkey-wikipedia-ipfs/|archive-date=18 October 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Wikipedia'nın Engellenemeyen Türkçe Sürümü Yayına Girdi!|url=http://www.webtekno.com/wikipedia-nin-engellenemeyen-turkce-surumu-yayina-girdi-h28961.html|website=Webtekno|date=12 May 2017 |access-date=14 May 2017|language=tr-TR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515132227/http://www.webtekno.com/wikipedia-nin-engellenemeyen-turkce-surumu-yayina-girdi-h28961.html|archive-date=15 May 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Wikipedia'nın 'Engellenemeyen Türkçe Sürümünü' Çıkardılar!|url=https://www.entertusu.net/wikipedianin-engellenemeyen-turkce-surumunu-cikardilar-h2813 |website=entertusu.net|access-date=14 May 2017|language=tr-TR}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{As of|2019}}, it was possible to update Wikipedia by evading the block with one of the virtual private networks (VPNs) which are not blocked{{cite web |title=Best VPNs for Turkey: Which ones still beat VPN ban in 2019? |date=28 January 2019 |url=https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/best-vpn-turkey/ |publisher=Comparitech Limited |access-date=3 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503062006/https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/best-vpn-turkey/ |archive-date=3 May 2019 |url-status=live }} and thus a domain name server (DNS) outside Turkey. An IP block exemption from Wikipedia was also required.

Both the Wikimedia Foundation as well as some users (academics and activists Yaman Akdeniz and Kerem Altıparmak) of the platform challenged the blocking decision of the Ankara 1st Criminal Judgeship of Peace. All the appeals were rejected by the Ankara 2nd Criminal Judgeship of Peace. Therefore the initial blocking decision became final.{{cite news|title= Bakan'dan Wikipedia açıklaması|url= http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/bakandan-wikipedia-aciklamasi-40452738|newspaper= Hürriyet|date= 9 May 2017|access-date= 10 May 2017|archive-date= 15 May 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170515142401/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/bakandan-wikipedia-aciklamasi-40452738|url-status= live}}{{cite news|title= Mahkemeden Wikipedia kararı.|url= http://www.takvim.com.tr/guncel/2017/05/05/mahkemeden-wikipedia-karari|newspaper= Takvim|date= 5 May 2017|access-date= 10 May 2017|archive-date= 11 May 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170511050023/http://www.takvim.com.tr/guncel/2017/05/05/mahkemeden-wikipedia-karari|url-status= live}} Following this, the Wikimedia Foundation as well as the academics Yaman Akdeniz and Kerem Altıparmak lodged separate individual applications with the Constitutional Court of Turkey.{{cite news|title= Wikipedia Anayasa Mahkemesi'ne başvurdu|url= http://www.ntv.com.tr/teknoloji/wikipedia-anayasa-mahkemesine-basvurdu,p3tezeQnhk-7OaFGkuyCQw|publisher= NTV|date= 9 May 2017|access-date= 10 May 2017|archive-date= 9 May 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170509200207/http://www.ntv.com.tr/teknoloji/wikipedia-anayasa-mahkemesine-basvurdu,p3tezeQnhk-7OaFGkuyCQw|url-status= live}} Unlike in previous applications involving the Twitter and YouTube platforms, the Constitutional Court did not issue a swift judgment and for almost 2.5 years there was no development whatsoever involving the individual applications lodged with the Constitutional Court.

Because of the delays, in May 2019, the Wikimedia Foundation filed an application with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), stating that the ban was "a violation of the right to freedom of expression". The Foundation was represented by English barrister Can Yeğinsu and Turkish attorney {{Interlanguage link|Gönenç Gürkaynak|lt=Gönenç Gürkaynak|tr||WD=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48386940|title=Wikipedia petitions ECHR over Turkey ban|publisher=BBC|date=23 May 2019|access-date=23 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709233530/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48386940|archive-date=9 July 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/ff2bf0d0-7d5a-11e9-81d2-f785092ab560|title=Wikipedia takes Turkey to European human rights court|publisher=Financial Times|first=Laura|last=Pitel|date=23 May 2019|access-date=23 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919155107/https://www.ft.com/content/ff2bf0d0-7d5a-11e9-81d2-f785092ab560|archive-date=19 September 2019|url-status=live}} In July 2019, the Wikimedia Foundation published a post on their social media accounts, announcing that the ECHR had expedited the case.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Ov2_jlDOc/|title=The European Court of Human Rights has chosen to expedite our case to restore access to Wikipedia in Turkey, and defend free access to knowledge.|publisher=Instagram|work=Wikipedia|date=22 July 2019|access-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217080349/https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Ov2_jlDOc/|archive-date=17 December 2019|url-status=live}} Later in August, the ECHR announced that it had given Turkey until the end of October to justify the ban.{{cite web|url=https://ahvalnews.com/wikipedia/european-court-sets-october-deadline-turkey-justify-wikipedia-ban|title=European court sets October deadline for Turkey to justify Wikipedia ban|publisher=Ahval|date=21 August 2019|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822014704/https://ahvalnews.com/wikipedia/european-court-sets-october-deadline-turkey-justify-wikipedia-ban|archive-date=22 August 2019|url-status=live}} The Constitutional Court of Turkey (AYM) weighed in on the issue on 11 September 2019 to decide whether the ban was in violation of freedom of expression or not.{{cite web|url=https://ahvalnews.com/wikipedia/turkeys-top-court-set-rule-wikipedia-ban#|title=Turkey's top court set to rule on Wikipedia ban|publisher=Ahval|date=7 September 2019|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909195547/https://ahvalnews.com/wikipedia/turkeys-top-court-set-rule-wikipedia-ban|archive-date=9 September 2019|url-status=live}} A pro-government journalist later stated that the court had considered rescinding the ban.{{cite news|url=https://ahvalnews.com/free-speech/turkeys-top-court-set-rescind-wikipedia-ban-pro-govt-journalist#|title=Turkey's top court set to rescind Wikipedia ban - pro-govt journalist|newspaper=Ahval|date=11 September 2019|access-date=12 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911215857/https://ahvalnews.com/free-speech/turkeys-top-court-set-rescind-wikipedia-ban-pro-govt-journalist|archive-date=11 September 2019|url-status=live}} At the end of October, the ECHR gave Turkey an additional six weeks to work on any potential justification that they might have for this ban.{{cite web|url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2019/ekonomi/turkiyeye-wikipedia-savunmasi-icin-ek-sure-5417104/|title=Türkiye'ye Wikipedia savunması için ek süre|newspaper=Sözcü|date=29 October 2019|access-date=8 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105121711/https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2019/ekonomi/turkiyeye-wikipedia-savunmasi-icin-ek-sure-5417104/|archive-date=5 November 2019|url-status=live}} On 25 November 2019, Dunja Mijatović, the European Commissioner for Human Rights, declared the blocking "unacceptable in a democratic society and not compatible with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights which protects freedom of expression".{{Cite web|url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/view/-/asset_publisher/ugj3i6qSEkhZ/content/commissioner-publishes-observations-on-internet-blocking-in-turkey|title=Commissioner publishes observations on internet blocking in Turkey|website=Commissioner for Human Rights|language=en-GB|access-date=5 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205132345/https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/view/-/asset_publisher/ugj3i6qSEkhZ/content/commissioner-publishes-observations-on-internet-blocking-in-turkey|archive-date=5 December 2019|url-status=live}} The General Assembly of the Constitutional Court of Turkey announced that the case would be reviewed on 26 December 2019 during their meeting.{{cite web|url=https://www.gozlemgazetesi.com/HaberDetay/252/1119820/wikipedia-vikipedi-aciliyor-mu-anayasa-mahkemesi-gorusecek.html|title=Wikipedia (Vikipedi) açılıyor mu? Anayasa Mahkemesi görüşecek|newspaper=Gözlem|date=18 December 2019|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220061020/https://www.gozlemgazetesi.com/HaberDetay/252/1119820/wikipedia-vikipedi-aciliyor-mu-anayasa-mahkemesi-gorusecek.html|archive-date=20 December 2019|url-status=live}} On 26 December 2019, the court ruled in a 10–6 vote that the block of Wikipedia violated the freedom of expression and ordered it to be lifted immediately.{{cite web |title=Turkey's top court says Wikipedia ban is violation of rights |website=Hürriyet Daily News |date=26 December 2019 |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-top-court-says-wikipedia-ban-is-violation-of-rights-150322 |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226162345/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-top-court-says-wikipedia-ban-is-violation-of-rights-150322 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Court rules Turkey violated freedoms by banning Wikipedia |website=AP NEWS |date=26 December 2019 |url=https://apnews.com/3dc4b3da93ba67f728b27608badb7d93 |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226130604/https://apnews.com/3dc4b3da93ba67f728b27608badb7d93 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |url-status=live }}

The ICTA announced that they would open the site after the court's decision, however, Yaman Akdeniz, a law professor and one of the applicants in the Wikipedia case from Istanbul Bilgi University, said that a full opinion "most likely [needed] to be published" before the ban was lifted.{{cite web|url=https://www.aksam.com.tr/guncel/wikipedia-nedir-neden-yasaklandi-wikipedia-vikipedi-yeniden-acilacak-mi/haber-1033058|title=Wikipedia (vikipedi) yeniden açılacak mı, tarih belli mi? Wikipedia nedir, neden yasaklandı?|newspaper=Akşam|date=27 December 2019|access-date=1 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102002944/https://www.aksam.com.tr/guncel/wikipedia-nedir-neden-yasaklandi-wikipedia-vikipedi-yeniden-acilacak-mi/haber-1033058|archive-date=2 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/26/world/europe/wikipedia-ban-turkey.html|title=Turkey's Ban on Wikipedia Is Unconstitutional, Court Says|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Mihir|last=Zaveri|date=26 December 2019|access-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228020212/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/26/world/europe/wikipedia-ban-turkey.html|archive-date=28 December 2019|url-status=live}} The Turkish government was expected to submit its written observations to the ECHR in January 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50918724|title=Wikipedia ban: Top court calls for Turkey to lift block|work=BBC News|date=26 December 2019|access-date=1 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231135006/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50918724|archive-date=31 December 2019|url-status=live}}

On 24 March 2022, after Wikipedia was unblocked in Turkey, the ECHR dismissed the case of Wikipedia's block.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-03-24 |title=European Court of Human Rights dismisses case about block of Wikipedia in Turkey |url=https://diff.wikimedia.org/2022/03/24/european-court-of-human-rights-dismisses-case-about-block-of-wikipedia-in-turkey/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Wikimedia Diff |language=en-US}}

File:Welcome back Turkey - KM.webm, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation]]

File:Vikipedi'yeKavustuk.png

After the Constitutional Court's decision in December 2019, overruling the initial ban, Turkish authorities granted users access to Wikipedia on late 15 January 2020 (Wikipedia's 19th birthday). The decision was officially announced on T.C. Resmî Gazete on the same day.{{cite web|url=https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2020/01/20200115-6.pdf|title=Erişim engelinin kaldırılmasına dair Anayasa Mahkemesinin gerekçeli kararı|newspaper=Resmi Gazete|date=15 January 2020|access-date=15 January 2020|archive-date=15 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115090910/https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2020/01/20200115-6.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite press release |author= |title=Access to Wikipedia restored in Turkey after more than two and a half years |url=https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2020/01/16/access-to-wikipedia-restored-in-turkey-after-more-than-two-and-a-half-years/ |publisher=Wikimedia Foundation |date=16 October 2020 |access-date=16 January 2020 |archive-date=16 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116065452/https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2020/01/16/access-to-wikipedia-restored-in-turkey-after-more-than-two-and-a-half-years/ |url-status=live }}

On 26 December 2019, Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia, celebrated the decision by tweeting "Welcome back, Turkey!" with a photo of the Turkish flag.{{Cite web|date=2019-12-26|title='Welcome back, Turkey': Court orders Ankara to lift its Wikipedia ban|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/12/26/turkey-s-wikipedia-ban-violates-freedom-of-expression-top-court-rules|access-date=2020-12-16|website=euronews|language=en|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421033254/https://www.euronews.com/2019/12/26/turkey-s-wikipedia-ban-violates-freedom-of-expression-top-court-rules|url-status=live}}

On 16 January 2020, the Wikimedia Foundation issued a press release which included the following statement:

{{Quote

|text=We are thrilled that the people of Turkey will once again be able to participate in the largest global conversation about the culture and history of Turkey online and continue to make Wikipedia a vibrant source of information about Turkey and the world

|author=Wikimedia Foundation

|title=

|source=[https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2020/01/16/access-to-wikipedia-restored-in-turkey-after-more-than-two-and-a-half-years/ press release] (16 January 2020)

}}

Hürriyet, a prominent newspaper of Turkey, wrote "Wikipedia is finally free". A well-known TV host Ahmet Hakan, who is often criticized for his pro-government views, said "the only thing I do not understand is this: why would anyone be bothered by Wikipedia being free?"{{Cite news|date=2020-01-16|title=Turkey's Wikipedia ban ends after almost three years|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51133804|access-date=2020-12-16|archive-date=23 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223140555/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51133804|url-status=live}}

While the website was blocked, the number of Turkish articles continued to grow. Before the block in April 2017, the number of Turkish articles in Wikipedia was 289,314. By the time of the Constitutional Court's decision in January 2020, it had reached 338,882 articles.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-15|title=Wikipedia'nın erişim engeli kaldırıldı|url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-turkiye-51113983|access-date=2020-12-16|website=BBC News Türkçe|language=tr|archive-date=17 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117230448/https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-turkiye-51113983|url-status=live}} This shows that during the block of 2.5 years, approximately 49,000 articles were created in Wikipedia either through different circumvention methods or by Turkish speakers who live elsewhere.

{{Portal|Internet|Freedom of speech|Turkey}}

• Censorship of Wikipedia
• Censorship in Turkey
• Internet censorship in Turkey
• Turkey's media purge after the failed July 2016 coup d'état
• List of media outlets shut down in the 2016 Turkish purges
• List of arrested journalists in Turkey
• Internet censorship circumvention
• Block of Wikipedia in Venezuela

{{reflist|30em}}

{{wikinews|Turkey blocks Wikipedia, alleging smear campaign}}

• [https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2016)011-e European Councils's Venice Commission's Opinion on Law No. 5651]
• Wikimedia Foundation urges Turkish authorities to restore access to Wikipedia, Response by the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF)
• Response to 2017 ban in Turkey, Response by the Wikimedia community that complements the WMF response
• Project on Hindi Wikipedia where Wiki-contributions on Turkey were made showing solidarity with Turkish Wikipedians
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20171130114008/http://www.turkcewikipedia.org/ TurkceWikipedia.org] – A "pirate" website mirroring Wikipedia's Turkish- and English-language content
• [https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/turkey/revealed-the-four-articles-that-got-wikipedia-banned-in-turkey-1.6032214 Revealed: The Four Articles That Got Wikipedia Banned in Turkey], article in Haaretz

{{Censorship and websites}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Block of Wikipedia in Turkey, 2017}}

Category:2017 establishments in Turkey

Category:2020 disestablishments in Turkey

Category:2017 in computing

Category:April 2017 in Turkey

Category:Information operations and warfare

Category:Internet censorship in Turkey

Turkey

Category:Censorship of Wikipedia