Turkey Blocks Access to Twitter Before Elections

Twitter wiped out in Turkey!

The Turkish government have blocked access to Twitter before the local elections will take place next week.

The shutting down of the social media made headline after the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing a corruption scandal.

The country’s leader went berserk when evidence in a corruption scandal rippled in social media. Thus, the prime minister threatened to shut down all social media platforms.

The corruption scandal broke last December which disclosed the government’s graft and corruption undertakings.

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U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul in Ankara, Turkey, in April 2009.

Evidences of corruption are featured on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter including wiretapped calls among the prime minister’s discussion how to hide their ill-gotten wealth with his comrades.

The disruption has sparked a virtual uproar including calls for street to protest.

US ‘concerned’ on Turkish Government’s Blocking of Social Media Sites

As forerunner to advancing free speech around the world, the United States of America today expressed deep concern on encroachment on theright to free speech in Turkey.

In her a press statement in Washington DC, Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said the United States supports freedom of expression in Turkey and opposes any action to encroach on the right to free speech.

“We urge the Turkish Government to unblock its citizens’ access to Twitter and ensure free access to all social media platforms.” – Ms. Psaki

She emphasized that an independent and unfettered media is an essential element of democratic, open societies.

Contrary to what happened in Turkey where the government shutdown Twitter. Ms. Psali underlined that the action contradicts Turkey’s own expressed desire to uphold the highest standards of democracy.

“We have conveyed our serious concern over this action to Turkish authorities.” – Ms. Psaki

US and Turkey Collaborate on global issues

With regards to Syrian crisis, both Turkey and the United States rallied to put sanctions together, which have helped to reduce the amount of money flowing to Assad regime’s war machine.

Together, both countries worked to strengthen the Syrian opposition so that they are in a position now to be able to do more.

Together, both countries saw the NATO Patriots come here in order to secure Turkey’s border.

Mina Fabulous
Mina Fabulous follows the news, especially what is going on in the US State Department. Mina turns State Department waffle into plain English. Mina Fabulous is the pen name of Carmen Avalino, the NewsBlaze production editor. When she isn't preparing stories for NewsBlaze writers, she writes stories, but to separate her editing and writing identities, she uses the name given by her family and friends.