Thank you, everyone, for your messages regarding the situation in Turkey. As you can imagine, this has been a very busy time for the Wikimedia Foundation's Legal, Communications, Technical Operations, and Community Engagement departments, and we apologize for not being able to respond to Wikimedia-l sooner.
We are planning to publish a statement on the Wikimedia blog soon. In the meantime, we have been handling media and other inquiries with the following short statement, which we shared with the Communications Committee (ComCom) earlier this morning: "The Wikimedia Foundation has learned that access to Wikipedia has been blocked in Turkey as of Saturday, April 29th. Wikipedia is a rich and valuable source of neutral, reliable information in hundreds of languages, written by volunteers around the world. We are committed to ensuring that Wikipedia remains available to the millions of people who rely on it in Turkey. To that end, we are actively working with outside counsel to seek judicial review of the decision affecting access to Wikipedia. We hope the issue can be resolved promptly." We will continue to do our best to monitor this discussion, but I ask for your patience as we are managing inquiries coming in from multiple places. If you are receiving media inquiries about this, please contact pr...@wikimedia.org and we will be able to assist you. At this point, we believe that the most valuable point Wikimedians can make on behalf of Wikipedia is explaining its value as an educational resource. Thank you! Juliet On Sat, Apr 29, 2017 at 12:47 PM, Peter Southwood < peter.southw...@telkomsa.net> wrote: > False dichotomy > Cheers, > P > > -----Original Message----- > From: Wikimedia-l [mailto:wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On > Behalf Of Rogol Domedonfors > Sent: Saturday, 29 April 2017 9:46 PM > To: Wikimedia Mailing List > Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: [PRESS] Turkish authorities block Wikipedia > > Richard > > Then you want to say "We the undersigned do not [etc]". Of course the > implication is that everyone else does ... > > "Rogol" > > On Sat, Apr 29, 2017 at 8:42 PM, Richard Farmbrough < > rich...@farmbrough.co.uk> wrote: > > > Primarily this is those who sign the statement on meta. > > > > On 29 Apr 2017 20:41, "Rogol Domedonfors" <domedonf...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > James > > > > > > If you cannot say who "We" are who do not support terrorism, then > > > your statement is both meaningless and ineffectual. If you are > > > specific, then "we" need to know why you feel able to speak for "us". > > > > > > "Rogol" > > > > > > On Sat, Apr 29, 2017 at 8:33 PM, James Heilman <jmh...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > > > > > > @ Richard Thank you. I have adjusted that sentence to "We do not > > support > > > > terrorism." > > > > > > > > J > > > > > > > > On Sat, Apr 29, 2017 at 1:19 PM, Richard Farmbrough < > > > > rich...@farmbrough.co.uk> wrote: > > > > > > > > > "As a movement" is a phrase which I have trouble with. WhiIe > > > > > left it > > > is > > > > > very easy to make apple pie statements with little fear of > > > > contradiction, I > > > > > think it misees the point. We provide information, neutral > > > information. > > > > > Perhaps we hope as individuals this discourages rather than > > encourages > > > > > certain forms of behaviour. But if we provided the information > > > > > with > > the > > > > > goal of, for example, opposing terrorism we would cease to be a > > > neutral, > > > > > reliable sourgent, thus defeating any such goal. > > > > > > > > > > Conversely it is far more convincing to say that we don't > > > > > support terrorism, that the statements are on their face absurd, > > > > > that we > > > clearly > > > > > document the rise and fall of Isis, together with their actions > > > > > both > > in > > > > the > > > > > Middle East and the wider world, and tother encourage anyone who > > doubts > > > > > this to read our articles on the subject. > > > > > > > > > > On 29 Apr 2017 19:52, "James Heilman" <jmh...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > Richard I am not sure I am clear on what you mean. We are not > > > impartial > > > > > to > > > > > > everything. We oppose censorship and we oppose suppression of > > freedom > > > > of > > > > > > information. I think it is also perfectly fine to state that > > > > > > we as > > a > > > > > > movement oppose terrorism. > > > > > > > > > > > > Made a few more adjustments to this statement on meta > > > > > > > > > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Response_to_2017_ban_in_Turkey > > > > > > > > > > > > James > > > > > > > > > > > > On Sat, Apr 29, 2017 at 12:46 PM, Richard Farmbrough < > > > > > > rich...@farmbrough.co.uk> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > It is absolutely important to be clear that Wikipedia is > > impartial, > > > > or > > > > > at > > > > > > > least substantially so. This impartiality may be a threat > > > > > > > to > > > some, > > > > > but > > > > > > it > > > > > > > could be counter-productive to make statements which are not > > > > carefully > > > > > > > thought through. Those who support repressive regimes can > > > > > > > easily > > > be > > > > > > pushed > > > > > > > into an absolutist mindset. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 29 Apr 2017 18:42, "Ivan Martínez" <gala...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > +1 to Ting's idea about a statement > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Also we can support from our corner sending tweets and > > > > > > > > e-mails > > to > > > > our > > > > > > > local > > > > > > > > embassies. Our friends from Turkey or someone who speaks > > turkish > > > > can > > > > > > > > support us with a hasthag? I posted #WikipediaSansürlendi > > > > > > > > but > > > maybe > > > > > is > > > > > > > > incorrect. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Best, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 2017-04-29 12:16 GMT-05:00 Ting Chen <wing.phil...@gmx.de>: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I think the Foundation and the chapters *must* make a > > statement > > > > > that > > > > > > > > > decisively contradicts the reason of the block: That > > Wikipedia > > > > > > supports > > > > > > > > > terrorism. There could be further texts in the statement > > which > > > > > > stresses > > > > > > > > our > > > > > > > > > principle of neutrality and our goal to spread > > > > > > > > > knowledge, but > > > the > > > > > > first > > > > > > > > and > > > > > > > > > most important statement is to contradict the accusation. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ah some times I miss Jay, he would immediately recognize > > > > > > > > > how > > > > > > important > > > > > > > it > > > > > > > > > is to make such a statement. When national newspapers > > > > > > > > > and > > > > > broadcasts > > > > > > > are > > > > > > > > > referring (I just heard the one in Deutschland Funk > > > > > > > > > http://www.deutschlandfunk.de/dlf24-startseite.1441.de.h > > > > > > > > > tml > > ) > > > > this > > > > > > > > event, > > > > > > > > > there should be not only the accusation but always also > > > > > > > > > a > > > > reaction. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Greetings > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ting > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Am 29.04.2017 um 10:43 schrieb Itzik - Wikimedia Israel: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> Hey, > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> FYI - sad news from Turkish. > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> *Regards,Itzik Edri* > > > > > > > > >> Chairperson, Wikimedia Israel > > > > > > > > >> +972-54-5878078 | http://www.wikimedia.org.il > > > > > > > > >> Imagine a world in which every single human being can > > > > > > > > >> freely > > > > share > > > > > > in > > > > > > > > the > > > > > > > > >> sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment! > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > > > > > > > > >> From: Itzik - Wikimedia Israel <it...@wikimedia.org.il> > > > > > > > > >> Date: Sat, Apr 29, 2017 at 11:42 AM > > > > > > > > >> Subject: [PRESS] Turkish authorities block Wikipedia > > > > > > > > >> To: Communications Committee > > > > > > > > >> <wmfc...@lists.wikimedia.org> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39754909 > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> Reuters just published that a 15 minutes ago, so it > > > > > > > > >> will be > > > soon > > > > > all > > > > > > > > over > > > > > > > > >> the news. > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> --- > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> *Turkey has blocked all access inside the country to > > > > > > > > >> the > > > online > > > > > > > > >> encyclopaedia Wikipedia, one of the world's most > > > > > > > > >> popular > > > > > websites.* > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> It was not initially clear why the ban had been imposed. > > > > > > > > >> The Turkey Blocks group said the site was inaccessible > > > > > > > > >> from > > > > 08:00 > > > > > > > (05:00 > > > > > > > > >> GMT) by order of the Turkish authorities. > > > > > > > > >> People in the capital Istanbul were unable to access > > > > > > > > >> any > > > > Wikipedia > > > > > > > pages > > > > > > > > >> without using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). > > > > > > > > >> "After technical analysis and legal consideration based > > > > > > > > >> on > > the > > > > Law > > > > > > Nr. > > > > > > > > >> 5651, an administrative measure has been taken for this > > > > website," > > > > > > > > Turkey's > > > > > > > > >> Information and Communication Technologies Authority > > > > > > > > >> was > > > quoted > > > > as > > > > > > > > saying. > > > > > > > > >> No reason was given. > > > > > > > > >> Turkey Blocks and Turkish media, including the Hurriyet > > Daily > > > > > News, > > > > > > > said > > > > > > > > >> the provisional order would need to be backed by a full > > court > > > > > ruling > > > > > > > in > > > > > > > > >> the > > > > > > > > >> next few days. > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> Social media was in uproar as news of the ban emerged, > > > > > > > > >> with > > > some > > > > > > users > > > > > > > > >> speculating that it might be a bid to suppress > > > > > > > > >> criticism on > > > > > > President > > > > > > > > >> Recep > > > > > > > > >> Tayyip Erdogan's Wikipedia page. > > > > > > > > >> Mr Erdogan narrowly won a controversial 16 April > > > > > > > > >> referendum > > on > > > > > > > > increasing > > > > > > > > >> his powers, but the issue has deeply divided the country. > > > > > > > > >> Turkey has temporarily blocked popular social media > > > > > > > > >> sites > > > > > including > > > > > > > > >> Facebook and Twitter in the past, especially in the > > > > > > > > >> wake of > > > mass > > > > > > > > protests > > > > > > > > >> or terror attacks. > > > > > > > > >> The government has previously denied censoring the > > > > > > > > >> internet, > > > > > blaming > > > > > > > > >> outages on spikes in usage after major events. > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > >> *Regards,Itzik Edri* > > > > > > > > >> Chairperson, Wikimedia Israel > > > > > > > > >> +972-54-5878078 <+972%2054-587-8078> | > > > > > http://www.wikimedia.org.il > > > > > > > > >> Imagine a world in which every single human being can > > > > > > > > >> freely > > > > share > > > > > > in > > > > > > > > the > > > > > > > > >> sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment! > > > > > > > > >> _______________________________________________ > > > > > > > > >> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > > > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wik > > > > > > > > >> i/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wik > > > > > > > > >> i/Wikimedia-l > > > > > > > > >> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > > > > > >> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ > > > > > > mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l > > > > > > > , > > > > > > > > >> <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject > > > > > > > > >> = > > > > > > unsubscribe> > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > > > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wik > > > > > > > > > i/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and > > > > > > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > > > > > wiki/Wikimedia-l > > > > > > > > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > > > > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ > > > > > > mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > > > > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject= > > > > > unsubscribe> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > > > *Iván Martínez* > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > *Presidente - Wikimedia México A.C.User:ProtoplasmaKid * > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > // Mis comunicaciones respecto a Wikipedia/Wikimedia > > > > > > > > pueden > > tener > > > > una > > > > > > > > moratoria en su atención debido a que es un voluntariado. > > > > > > > > // Ayuda a proteger a Wikipedia, dona ahora: > > > > > > > https://donate.wikimedia.org > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > > > > > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and > > > > > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages > > > > > > > > to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > > > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ > > > > > mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > > > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject= > > > > unsubscribe> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > > > > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and > > > > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages > > > > > > > to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ > > > > mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject= > > > unsubscribe> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > James Heilman > > > > > > MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian > > > > > > > > > > > > The Wikipedia Open Textbook of Medicine > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > > > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > > > wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: > > > > > > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ > > > mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject= > > unsubscribe> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and > > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: > > > > > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ > > mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscr > > > > > ibe> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > James Heilman > > > > MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian > > > > > > > > The Wikipedia Open Textbook of Medicine > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: > > > > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > Unsubscribe: > > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscrib > > > > e> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > Unsubscribe: > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > wiki/Wikimedia-l > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2016.0.8013 / Virus Database: 4776/14407 - Release Date: 04/29/17 > > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > wiki/Wikimedia-l > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > -- *Juliet Barbara* Communications Director I Wikimedia Foundation 149 New Montgomery Street I San Francisco, CA 94105 jbarb...@wikimedia.org I +1 (415) 373-7330 What will Wikimedia be like in 2030? Join the conversation <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_movement/2017>. _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>
