Showing posts with label #AKPgate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #AKPgate. Show all posts

Saturday, January 11, 2014

"I'm Not A Dictator" - "Turkish Ministers Will Be Able to Give Internet Censor Orders Directly”


"I'm Not A Dictator" - "Turkish Ministers Will Be Able to Give Internet Censor Orders Directly”(bianet).

Bianet interviewed Serhat Koç, an advocate and telecommunications lawyer for Turkey’s Pirate Party, on the Draft Bill No 5651 on the internet services in Turkey.

If the draft will be implemented, the life will harder for internet users in Turkey. Censors on citizen journalism, scientific research and social media will be a routine,” he said.

He also added that new institutions will allows authorities to implement Censors in skyrocket speed.

“Due to censorship, service providers will enhance their auto-censor mechanisms and alternative methods like DNS change will no longer work,” he added.

Bill increases the likelihood of censor.

The draft bill also put hate speech in the category for internet ban. This is the most problematic aspect of the bill, maybe.

Because Turkish Penal Code interprets hate speech towards “Islam, Muslims, Turkish-ness, Sunni sect”.

As a result, we observe cases like the ones of Fazıl Say and Sevan Nişanyan who have been convicted of charges related to freedom expression. Websites like “yenidonem.com” (newera.com) are closed down. Even though hate speech is important, I am pretty skeptical about how it will be interpreted on the internet. Some many website might be closed down because of that.

What else is in there?

The new draft compels judges to respond to internet-based “right violations complaints” in 24 hours. 

Considering that most of our judges have little idea about the internet, it is highly doubtful how they will make their decisions. We have faith on them! It is also up to İnternet Geliştirme Kurulu (Internet Improvement Institution) to decide on situations like monitoring, restriction, application or inspection.

It is something like National Security Agency in the U.S. It will also enable ministers and telecommunication authorities to be compatible on giving internet censor orders directly.Hmmm.......Erdogan : "I'm not a dictator. It's not even in my blood,"Read the full story here.


Raw Video - Turkey - AKP deputy performs roundhouse kick to the face of opposition member during judicial commission meeting.



Raw Video - Turkey - AKP deputy performs roundhouse kick to the face of opposition member during judicial commission meeting.

More here: Punches thrown as Turkish MPs debate judicial reform

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Obama's BFF PM Erdogan defends Iranian Businessman Zarrab, suspected of leading bribery ring


Obama's BFF PM Erdogan defends Iranian Businessman Zarrab, suspected of leading bribery ring.(TZ).

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has praised Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab -- who stands accused of being the ringleader of a shady money-laundering and gold-smuggling ring set up to dodge sanctions against Iran -- for his contribution to the country's economy.

Zarrab exports gold and I know that he is involved in charity activities as well,” Erdoğan said in a rally at İstanbul Atatürk Airport on Tuesday, after he returned from Pakistan.

Erdoğan said that if there were evidence against Zarrab, then why not catch him in the act and get video footage?

Fifty-two people, including bureaucrats, well-known businesspeople and the sons of three ministers, were detained on Dec. 17 in a corruption investigation that has shaken Turkey's political and business elite and pushed three ministers to resign on Wednesday. 

Zarrab is alleged to have bribed three ministers and their sons a total of TL 137 million ($66 million) to help him disguise money laundering operations. Halkbank and its general manager, Süleyman Aslan, also under arrest, were involved in Turkey's gold trade with Iran.

Is there any evidence that proves the relationship between what has been found in the [Halkbank general] manager's house and the bank? I have no doubt that he [Aslan] is innocent.”

Erdoğan went on to deny the allegations of corruption and called the investigation an attack on the government, society and the “national will.”

When asked if the probe was a bid to tarnish his reputation, the prime minister said anyone attempting such a thing would fail.Hmmmm.....'Sanctions that benefit'....Anyone?

Related: Much , much more here:

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Iranian gold stars in Turkish corruption scandal 


Will Erdogan's gov make it till 2014? PM Erdoğan declares ‘independence brawl’ against plotters.



Will Erdogan's gov make it till 2014? PM Erdoğan declares ‘independence brawl’ against plotters.(HD).

On the day three of his ministers resigned due to an ongoing corruption and graft probe, the prime minister declared “fight for independence” against what he calls “traitors and spies,” who plotted against the government, a growing Turkey, hand-in-hand with international powers.

Don’t forget; this process is the new Turkey’s fight for independence. This is that important. The plans of those against Turkey will be ruined in this process,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in his address at a party meeting yesterday. Erdoğan’s statement came only an hour after one of the resigned ministers, Erdoğan Bayraktar, called for the prime minister to resign as well.

Erdoğan called on his party to stand firm against allegations and to work hard for the local elections, which he sees of vital importance for his party’s future. “I openly say: If you work, Turkey will win. If you show neglect, then the entire Turkey will lose, national will will lose and our future will lose,” he stressed. 

Although his ministers resigned for the well-being of the probe and to relax the government against growing pressures, Erdoğan seemed to be defiant and continued to describe the scandal as a plot conducted by international powers in alliance with some national actors. Although indirectly, the prime minister continued to harshly bash the Fethullah Gülen community (the Hizmet movement) and accused some media organizations of spying for foreign countries. 

Erdoğan said the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government never tolerated corruption and had dismissed wrongdoers in the past.

“During the last 11 years, there have been many accusations and attempts at slander. We have removed the wrongdoers and we have patiently waited for those who had allegations against them to be cleared,” Erdoğan said.

“The smallest taint in our record will draw attention. And when it does, we will do what’s necessary,” he said, although he did not comment on the resignations of his ministers.


Repeating his earlier arguments on the role of international powers in this “corruption plot,” Erdoğan likened the ongoing process with that of the Gezi Park protests of June, which came as a result of the historic success of the Turkish economy in May. Citing nine causes of international plotters to step in to stop Turkey’s growth, Erdoğan said the traitors’ efforts failed that time.

We should carefully elaborate all of these things. Because, I repeat it, this is not a national operation. It has an international dimension. On top of it, there is the international dimension and below are its contractors. This is not a simple issue,” he said.

‘Peace process targeted’

For Erdoğan, one of the objectives of the current plot against the government is to nix the ongoing Kurdish resolution process. “On Dec. 17, a suicide was committed against our peace (process) in Diyarbakır. They have covered it with a veil of corruption to influence public opinion. Preoccupying the people’s attention with these corruption claims, they have set up traps to take the revenge of Diyarbakır, the Mavi Marmara, Oslo, Feb. 7 and Halkbank,” he said. 

Diyarbakır was the venue of his historic meeting with Massoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG); Oslo is the place where the AKP government and Kurdish militants have negotiated an agreement for peace, Feb. 7 (2012) was the date the pro-Gülen community prosecutors wanted to arrest Hakan Fidan, the head of National Intelligence Organization and Mavi Marmara is the vessel on which nine Turkish citizens were killed by Israeli commandos, which caused a huge crisis between Turkey and Israel in 2010. All of these issues constitute major points of disagreement between the government and the pro-Gülen community.

Vowing to further fight against what he calls “gangs within the state,” Erdoğan accused some media members of spying for foreign countries without giving any names.Hmmm......Time for the US gov to act on these blatant breaches of the Iran sanctions! 

Much , much more here:
“Sanctions That Benefit” – Iranian gold stars in Turkish corruption scandal 

Update: 

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