May 3, 2017
Speaking at the 11th International Electronic Communications Regulators Conference and Turkey Informatics Summit, Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, made statements regarding the blocking of access to Wikipedia.
WE ARE A CIVILIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE...
Stating that he was saddened by Wikipedia's shutdown, Sayan said, “We are a civilization of knowledge. Those who look at our history know that the most valuable thing beside us is knowledge. From our Prophet to our greatest philosopher, from our rulers to our peasants, everyone praises the knowledgeable and values the knower: one becomes 'a learner, a teacher, or serves them.' I want to inform the site managers who do not know this and act heavily in complying with the rules in their place that it would be good for them to look at Wikipedia and get to know us.”
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO UNBLOCK WIKIPEDIA WITHOUT IMPLEMENTING LEGAL DECISIONS
Sayan said the following regarding the blocking of access to Wikipedia: “There are finalized legal processes regarding some pages of Wikipedia, and unfortunately, these pages are not removed by Wikipedia. Turkey is a state of law, and the courts have spoken on this matter. It is not possible to unblock Wikipedia without implementing these decisions.”
IF WIKIPEDIA PROVIDES INFORMATION, IT SHOULD ALSO VERIFY THE INFORMATION
Sayan stated, “Just like those who specialize in every branch, our nation has delved deeply into the subtleties of knowledge and given it the name of 'irfan,' which is another dimension of knowing. As an extension of this mystical deepening, it has foreseen not only knowledge but also the accuracy of knowledge, that it should not be misleading, and that information carriers should not replace truth with falsehood for any interest or malice. Additionally, our holy book says, 'If a hypocrite brings you some news, verify it lest you be sinning against some people unwittingly.'” reminding that Wikipedia should not only provide information but also verify it, he added, “My call is for Wikipedia to resolve the problems that caused its shutdown, and if necessary, to rehabilitate the system. In this regard, we value the recent developments regarding the fight against fake news on the internet, which we have been talking about internationally for years. We even positively view the Wikipedia managers' recognition of this deficiency and launching the Wikitribune initiative. Fighting fake news is beneficial for all of us.”
WE ARE READY FOR COOPERATION WITH WIKIPEDIA
Expressing that they are fully open to cooperation, Sayan concluded his remarks as follows: “We can meet, we can discuss. For people, states, and platforms to continue in an orderly manner, a sequence of rules, order, and law is necessary for all of us. Freedom is not one-sided. Turkey is a state of law. Everyone must do what falls upon them within the law. No one has the right to say 'I do not recognize Turkish courts.' Additionally, I want to state that we are ready to provide all kinds of support that falls upon us on the path to unblocking Wikipedia.