http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Religion <http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Religion&loid=8.0.4032072 64&par=0> &loid=8.0.403207264&par=0
TURKEY: CELLPHONE SILENCERS IN MOSQUES STIR ROW <javascript:aumenta();> <javascript:diminuisci();> Istanbul, 10 April (AKI) - Despite repeated pleas to turn them off when entering the mosque, the intrusive buzz or jingle of cellphones has continued to disrupt worshippers during services at mosques across Turkey. So the arrival of the new GSM jammer - which scrambles the signals and prevents the phone from ringing - seemed like an answer to prayer and was swiftly bought and installed by various imams. But now the right to pray in peace has come into conflict with the right to communicate, guaranteeed under the constitution, and a legal challenge may mean the GSM jammers must be removed. The August 17 Mosque, one of the biggest in the western Turkish city of Adapazari, has installed the device which costs 500 dollars. Ahmet Kobal, the imam of the mosque, says that they prevent disruption of prayer time by severing the connection between the mobile phone and the satellite which carries communication, so it does not ring. "During the prayers hearing Mozart tunes or belly-dance songs was quite disturbing and I would lost my concentration. But after the device was installed it is much more peaceful," says Galip Sabir, a regular attendant at the mosque. Nebi Serin, who sells a similar device called 'GSM Blocker' in the central city of Konya, says people favour a technology-based solution for a technology-based problem, adding that his sales are increasing rapidly. "I hope the device is placed in all mosques so that we can pray more peacefully", Ozgur Dokmen from Istanbul told Adnkronos International (AKI). "I thought the devices were only put into big mosques. I didn't know that also small mosques have them", added another Istanbuler, Ahmet Arda. But one public office is not so happy with the new found peace in many Turkish mosques. The Telecommunications Board sent a circular to the powerful Religious Affairs Directorate - the public office responsible for all mosques - warning that those devices violate the 22nd article of the Turkish Constitution which guarantees "freedom of communication." "Preventing the right and freedom to communicate without the decision of a court means preventing a basic public service which violates the laws. Producing and using those devices are also banned according to Radio Law", says the circular. The Board asks all the mosques to remove the GSM jammer devices as soon as possible. It is not yet clear whether the devices will indeed be removed. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
