In a delusional move that befits a tin-pot dictatorship more than the democracy that the world believes Turkey to be, the Turkish Government moved to block access to popular social media application Twitter.
This high-handed and repressive action came hours after Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced his intention to block the social media network, during a campaign rally in Bursa on March 20. According to news reports, Erdogan was quoted as saying “We’ll eradicate Twitter. I don’t care what the international community says. Everyone will witness the power of the Turkish Republic.”
The DAP firmly believes that such a ban is unacceptable and a gross infringement on the right to freedom of speech and expression. Public criticism is part and parcel of democracy, and should be accorded space insofar as it is peaceful. The fundamental principle of freedom must never be “imprisoned” by those in power as they can act against lies by suing for defamation.
The Turkish government need not fear a social media tool like Twitter. Only those who fear the truth and wants to impose fear on the people will ban Twitter. As Thomas Jefferson said, “When the government fears the people, there is liberty, when the people fears the government, there is tyranny.
Therefore, DAP strongly calls upon Turkey to uphold freedom of speech and expression by immediately withdrawing the ban on Twitter.