Screenshot of the message YouTube visitors in Turkey used to find Turkey has lifted its ban on YouTube, more than two years after it blocked access to the video-sharing website. The government blocked access because the site contains videos deemed insulting to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk , the country's founder. Atatürk founded the country in 1923. Türk Telekom was ordered to block access to YouTube in May 2008 after Greek users posted some videos insulting the country's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. As a candidate of the European Union, Turkey implemented reforms in regards to freedom of expression. Under article 301 of the Turkish penal code , public denigration of Turkishness, the Republic of Turkey, Atatürk, and other national symbols, is a crime in Turkey. The ban was widely criticised by many Turks, even by the President Abdullah Gül who used his Twitter page to condemn the move. Minister of Transport Binali Yıldırım said "The reasons for the YouTube ban do not exist anymore, because the offending videos had been removed. YouTube will hopefully carry out its operations in Turkey within the limits of law in the future."
Screenshot of the message YouTube visitors in Turkey used to find Turkey has lifted its ban on YouTube, more than two years after it blocked access to the video-sharing website. The government blocked access because the site contains videos deemed insulting to , the country's founder. Atatürk founded the country in 1923. was ordered to block access to YouTube in May 2008 after Greek users posted some videos insulting the country's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. As a of the European Union, Turkey implemented reforms in regards to freedom of expression. Under article , public denigration of Turkishness, the Republic of Turkey, Atatürk, and other national symbols, is a crime in Turkey. The ban was widely criticised by many Turks, even by the President who used his page to condemn the move. Minister of Transport said "The reasons for the YouTube ban do not exist anymore, because the offending videos had been removed. YouTube will hopefully carry out its operations in Turkey within the limits of law in the future."
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Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
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Türk Telekom
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candidate
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301 of the Turkish penal code
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Abdullah Gül
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Twitter
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Binali Yıldırım