YouTube Back Online in Turkey
Internet users in Turkey regained access to the popular video-sharing Web site YouTube on Friday when a court revoked a ban imposed because a clip was judged to have insulted the country's founder.
Turkey's main Internet provider, Turk Telekom, had blocked access to YouTube on Wednesday on a court order following press reports over a video, submitted by a Greek user, that allegedly insulted the country's founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Ataturk, who proclaimed modern day Turkey in 1923, is seen as a national hero by secular Turks and his legacy is protected under a special law.
Later that day, the same court ruled, after a petition from Turk Telekom, that it would cancel the ban if the offending video was removed from the Web site.
The ban was strongly criticized as censorship in the press and by the general public.
The offending video was part of a cyber battle between Turks and Greeks on the Web site since the beginning of the year, with both parties submitting videos or comments allegedly mocking or insulting the other, according to press reports.
Ataturk, who proclaimed modern day Turkey in 1923, is seen as a national hero by secular Turks and his legacy is protected under a special law.
Later that day, the same court ruled, after a petition from Turk Telekom, that it would cancel the ban if the offending video was removed from the Web site.
The ban was strongly criticized as censorship in the press and by the general public.
The offending video was part of a cyber battle between Turks and Greeks on the Web site since the beginning of the year, with both parties submitting videos or comments allegedly mocking or insulting the other, according to press reports.
