Wikipedia blocked across Turkey

Turkey has blocked access to online encyclopedia Wikipedia, the country's telecommunications watchdog said on April 29, citing a law allowing it to ban access to websites deemed obscene or a threat to national security.

"After technical analysis and legal consideration based on the Law No. 5651, an administrative measure has been taken for this website [wikipedia.org]," the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) said in a statement on its website.

Passed in 2014 by parliament, law no. 5651 allows the BTK to block access to individual webpages or entire websites for the protection of public order, national security or the well-being of the public.

The exact reason for the ban remains unclear. But Turkey's official news agency, quoting the Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ministry, said on April 29 the site was blocked for "becoming an information source acting with groups conducting a smear campaign against Turkey in the international arena."

"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," state-run Anadolu Agency quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.

The agency said officials had warned Wikipedia to remove content likening Turkey to terror groups but the site "persistently" did not.

The ban would be lifted if Wikipedia met the government's demands, the agency said. 

Turkey had demanded that Wikipedia open an office in the country, act in line with international law and abide by court decisions and not be part of "blackout operation against Turkey," according to the agency.

Under the law, the watchdog is required to submit its ban to a...