Though the current Turkish constitution technically guarantees freedom of speech, it also allows for the government to curtail this freedom. Freedom of speech is no where without restriction but the categories of restricted speech in Turkey are particularly broad and vague. For example, it is illegal to insult "Turkishness" or the person of Ataturk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey. A broad definition of what it means to insult "Turkishness" in particular is used to prosecute intellectuals, artists and others who draw the ire of the state. Prominent examples include the novelists Elif Safak and Orhan Pamukand the assassinated activist Hrant Dink.
In the past few years, the government has has used these laws and others as excuses to ban internet sites. YouTube was banned for two years and google blogger, this blog site, was banned from the first week in March until just a few weeks ago. Now the government is considering making internet filters mandatory. Though they claim the filters will give the option of unfiltered content, the Turkish people have every reason to suspect otherwise.
Turkey is no where near the level of censorship that occurs in places like China and its citizens are much more willing and able to demand their rights via protest. However, this trend of censorship is a slippery slope. Freedom of press and speech are basic to any healthy and functioning democracy. Without them, free elections are not possible. It will be interesting to see if there is an increase in internet censorship as the June election approaches.
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