New subject: Recent statement on the block of Wikipedia in Turkey

23 May 2018

Hello,

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported the #WeMissTurkey
efforts marking the one-year anniversary of the block in Turkey of all
language versions of Wikipedia. The Wikimedia Foundation remains committed
to restoring access to Wikipedia in full, upholding our values and stance
against censorship, and supporting the local Wikimedia community in Turkey.

As part of our ongoing efforts, we have been monitoring discussions and
mentions in the media around Wikipedia in Turkey. Last Friday, May 18, the
Turkish Minister of Transport, Maritime, and Communications, Ahmet Arslan,
made a number of incorrect comments[0] to the press in Turkey about
Wikimedia and the block of Wikipedia. Minister Arslan’s position includes
oversight of the BTK, the Internet Regulatory Agency that sought the block
of Wikipedia.

The Foundation has replied to the Minister’s statements with an open letter
sent to the Minister and shared with the media who covered the Minister's
statements. The statement has also been shared with the local Wikimedia
community in Turkey, and we have posted it on the Wikimedia Blog in both
English[1] and Turkish[2] to address any further public confusion.

We will continue to keep you updated as we work with the local community to
monitor the situation, and take appropriate actions to restore access to
Wikipedia in Turkey.

Thank you,
Eileen

[0] https://www.ntv.com.tr/teknoloji/bakan-ahmet-arslandan-wikipedia-
aciklamasi,UaPHfIgSq0yDPoVfXo5SOw
[1]  https://blog.wikimedia.org/2018/05/22/a-letter-to-
minister-ahmet-arslan/
[2]  https://blog.wikimedia.org/tr/2018/05/22/bakan-ahmet-arslan-
vikipedi-dunyadaki-herkes-tarafindan-gelistirilmeye-aciktir-ve-turkiyedeki-
editorler-icin-de-acik-olmalidir/