Turkey blocks all access to Wikipedia

Turkey has blocked all access inside the country to online encyclopedia Wikipedia, citing a law allowing it to ban access to websites deemed obscene or a threat to national security, said the telecommunications giant on Saturday.

"After technical analysis and legal consideration ... an administrative measure has been taken for this website (Wikipedia.Org)," the BTK telecommunications watchdog said in a statement on its website.

The statement cited a law that allows it to block access to individual web pages or entire websites for the protection of public order, national security or the well-being of the public.

The country's communications ministry said Wikipedia was attempting to run a "smear campaign" against Turkey, saying some articles purported that Ankara was coordinating with militant groups reports, state-run Anadolu newsagency.

"Instead of coordinating against terrorism, it has become part of an information source which is running a smear campaign against Turkey in the international arena," Anadolu quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.

The ban would be lifted if Wikipedia met the government's demands, said Anadolu.

Under the law, the watchdog is required to submit its ban to a court within 24 hours. The court then has two days to decide whether the ban should be upheld.

In the past, Turkey has temporarily blocked social media sites including Facebook and Twitter, usually following protests or terror attacks.

Meanwhile following the ban, Wikipedia founder, Jimmy Wales has vowed to support the people of Turkey.

Reuters