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                Date: 2001-06-06
                 
                 
                TR: Webpublishing mit Hindernissen
                
                 
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      Ein neues Mediengesetz in der Türkei weist in Bezug aufs Internet  
locker jenen Grad an Idiotie auf, den das Spanische LSSI enthält. 
 
http://www.quintessenz.at/archiv/msg01521.html
                   
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Relayed via "Canadian Journalists for Free Expression"  
<cjfe@cjfe.org>  
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ACTION ALERT UPDATE - TURKEY 
 
5 June 2001 
 
IPI expresses concern over draft media law 
 
SOURCE: International Press Institute (IPI), Vienna 
 
**Updates IFEX alert of 24 May 2001** 
 
(IPI/IFEX) - In a 5 June 2001 letter to Turkish Prime Minister Bülent  
Ecevit, IPI expressed deep concern over a draft media law that  
would require Internet websites in Turkey to submit their pages to  
the authorities prior to publication. 
 
According to IPI sources, if the draft law is passed, website  
operators would be forced to hand over copies of pages to a  
prosecutor and a governor's office before they can post them on the  
Internet. All electronic broadcasts carrying text or pictures would  
be affected by the proposed legislation. In addition, the draft law  
would also oblige new Internet service providers to obtain  
permission from the authorities before starting operations. 
 
The requirement to submit material to the authorities, prior to its  
publication, is an undue restriction on freedom of the media and  
expression. It could be used by the authorities to prevent  
publication of material deemed harmful to their interests, including  
criticism or other forms of discourse that are healthy and  
necessary parts of public debate in democratic societies. Indeed,  
judging by recent actions taken against websites in Turkey, it  
would appear that the draft law could provide the authorities with  
further power to censor information before it is published, which is  
in contradiction with internationally accepted standards. 
 
On 16 February, it was reported that the website www.subay.net  
was taken off the Internet after it allegedly insulted the Turkish  
army. IPI believes that the proposed law could be used in a similar  
way by the authorities to control what is being published on the  
Internet. Consequently, it is in gross violation of Article 10.1 of the  
European Convention on Human Rights to which Turkey is bound.  
This Article guarantees the ".freedom to hold opinions and to  
receive and impart information and ideas without interference by  
public authority and regardless of frontiers." 
 
RECOMMENDED ACTION: 
 
Send appeals to the prime minister: - urging him to take the  
necessary steps to ensure that any legislation introduced  
concerning the media is in line with internationally accepted  
standards - requesting that the current draft law be withdrawn 
 
APPEALS TO: 
 
His Excellency Bülent Ecevit Prime Minister of the Republic of  
Turkey Prime Minister's Office Ankara, Turkey Fax: +90 312 417  
57 43 
 
Please copy appeals to the source if possible. 
 
For further information, contact IPI at Spiegelgasse 2, A-1010  
Vienna, Austria, tel: +43 1 512 90 11, fax: +43 1 512 90 14, e-mail:  
Michael Kudlak at mkudlak@freemedia.at, or Barbara Trionfi at  
info@freemedia.at, Internet site: www.freemedia.at 
 
 
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edited by Harkank 
published on: 2001-06-06 
comments to office@quintessenz.at
                   
                  
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