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US REPRESENTATIVES INTRODUCE RESOLUTION AGAINST TURKEYÂ~@~YS BAN ON TWITTER AND YOUTUBE
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
April 2 2014
Tolga TANIÅ~^WASHINGTON / Hurriyet
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The U.S. Congress resolutions condemning Turkey have been increasing
recently with Turkey's ban on social websites Twitter and YouTube.
Four members of the U.S. House of the Representatives on April 1
prepared a resolution calling on Turkey to remove the bans on the
social media, following a condemnation from two U.S. Senators last
month over blocking the social media sites and a complaint letter
sent to President Barrack Obama.
Ranking Member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee Anna
Eshoo, and three key members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Reps.
Tom Marino (R-Penn.), Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) and Bill Keating
(D-Mass.), introduced a resolution on April 1 calling on the Turkish
government to remove its block on Twitter and YouTube.
"Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are foundational
pillars to any functioning democracy," Eshoo said. "Social media,
such as Twitter and YouTube, has enhanced these pillars serving as
transformational instruments for social policy change to billions of
people who use them on a daily basis. By introducing this resolution,
we stand united against actions that restrict Internet freedom in
Turkey and around the world."
"In these modern times, open access to the Internet has become
essential for individuals to engage in free expression," said Marino,
who serves as Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and
Emerging Threats. "For this reason, the U.S. Congress must encourage
our partners in Turkey to restore access to social media outlets
and the Internet as a whole in order to preserve this fundamental
civil right. The resolution we are introducing today will send an
important message that Turkey not only must restore access to Twitter
and YouTube, but more broadly protect its citizens' rights to express
themselves, assemble peacefully, and allow for a free and fair press
to flourish."
"In today's world, Twitter and other social media outlets are critical
vehicles by which millions of ordinary citizens access the political
process and engage with their elected officials. By restricting these
basic freedoms, the Turkish government is threatening the foundation
its democracy rests on," said Kennedy.
"The Turkish government will need to do more to demonstrate the
strength of its democratic institutions. Certainly, a good first step
to restore the trust and faith of the Turkish population as well as the
international business community will be to reverse the decision to ban
social media within Turkey," said Keating, who serves as Ranking Member
of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats.
The resolution followed another resolution introduced by U.S. Senators
Chris Murphy and Ron Johnson condemning the Turkish government for
blocking Twitter and YouTube and restricting freedom of expression
on March 27.
One day after the two Senators' resolution, 34 members of the U.S.
House of Representatives have expressed their concerns over moves by
the Turkish government restricting social media.
Expressing concerns of the rule of law in Turkey, the letter, opened
up for signature in the House by Republican Congressman Luke Messer
of Indiana, asked the Obama administration to strongly demand Turkey
to protect its' citizens democratic freedoms and rights.
Apart from the ban on Twitter and YouTube, another reason for the
increase of the resolutions against Turkey in the U.S. congress can
be seen as upcoming April 24, the day when the Armenian Genocide is
globally commemorated.
April/02/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-representatives-introduce-resolution-against-turkeys-ban-on-twitter-and-youtube.aspx?pageID=238&nID=64459&NewsCatID=358
From: Baghdasarian
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
April 2 2014
Tolga TANIÅ~^WASHINGTON / Hurriyet
Print Page Send to friend Â"
Share
The U.S. Congress resolutions condemning Turkey have been increasing
recently with Turkey's ban on social websites Twitter and YouTube.
Four members of the U.S. House of the Representatives on April 1
prepared a resolution calling on Turkey to remove the bans on the
social media, following a condemnation from two U.S. Senators last
month over blocking the social media sites and a complaint letter
sent to President Barrack Obama.
Ranking Member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee Anna
Eshoo, and three key members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Reps.
Tom Marino (R-Penn.), Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) and Bill Keating
(D-Mass.), introduced a resolution on April 1 calling on the Turkish
government to remove its block on Twitter and YouTube.
"Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are foundational
pillars to any functioning democracy," Eshoo said. "Social media,
such as Twitter and YouTube, has enhanced these pillars serving as
transformational instruments for social policy change to billions of
people who use them on a daily basis. By introducing this resolution,
we stand united against actions that restrict Internet freedom in
Turkey and around the world."
"In these modern times, open access to the Internet has become
essential for individuals to engage in free expression," said Marino,
who serves as Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and
Emerging Threats. "For this reason, the U.S. Congress must encourage
our partners in Turkey to restore access to social media outlets
and the Internet as a whole in order to preserve this fundamental
civil right. The resolution we are introducing today will send an
important message that Turkey not only must restore access to Twitter
and YouTube, but more broadly protect its citizens' rights to express
themselves, assemble peacefully, and allow for a free and fair press
to flourish."
"In today's world, Twitter and other social media outlets are critical
vehicles by which millions of ordinary citizens access the political
process and engage with their elected officials. By restricting these
basic freedoms, the Turkish government is threatening the foundation
its democracy rests on," said Kennedy.
"The Turkish government will need to do more to demonstrate the
strength of its democratic institutions. Certainly, a good first step
to restore the trust and faith of the Turkish population as well as the
international business community will be to reverse the decision to ban
social media within Turkey," said Keating, who serves as Ranking Member
of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats.
The resolution followed another resolution introduced by U.S. Senators
Chris Murphy and Ron Johnson condemning the Turkish government for
blocking Twitter and YouTube and restricting freedom of expression
on March 27.
One day after the two Senators' resolution, 34 members of the U.S.
House of Representatives have expressed their concerns over moves by
the Turkish government restricting social media.
Expressing concerns of the rule of law in Turkey, the letter, opened
up for signature in the House by Republican Congressman Luke Messer
of Indiana, asked the Obama administration to strongly demand Turkey
to protect its' citizens democratic freedoms and rights.
Apart from the ban on Twitter and YouTube, another reason for the
increase of the resolutions against Turkey in the U.S. congress can
be seen as upcoming April 24, the day when the Armenian Genocide is
globally commemorated.
April/02/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-representatives-introduce-resolution-against-turkeys-ban-on-twitter-and-youtube.aspx?pageID=238&nID=64459&NewsCatID=358
From: Baghdasarian