Turkish protesters march against Internet censorship

July 20, 2010

About 2,000 protestors marched against censorship last Saturday in Istanbul in Turkey,  reported.

Protesters gathered at central Istanbul’s and marched down to Istiklal Avenue, chanting slogans against Transport and Communications Minister, Internet censorship, and especially against "Law No 5651".

Many Internet groups,, and Internet platforms participated in the protest, reported. , zaytung.com, bobiler.org, the Young Civilians, Penguen magazine, “Sansüre Sansür” (Censor Censorship) and “Sansüre Karşı Ortak Platform” (Joint Platform against Censorship) were among the participants.

More than 5,000 Internet sites including, YouTube and some of Google services are currently banned in Turkey. The bans are issued by prosecutors if the site "is deemed liable to incite suicide, paedophilia, drug abuse, obscenity or prostitution, or violate a law forbidding any attacks on ."

reported that the (OSCE) recently wrote to the Turkish authorities to urge them once again to restore access to banned Internet sites.