Richarddawkins.net Banned in Turkey

ChocolateSauce · 19-09-2008 3:48pm #1

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/science/news/article_1431422.php/Turkey_bans_biologist_Richard_Dawkins_website

I just got this from the RD newsletter.

Ankara - Turkish internet users have been blocked via a court order from accessing the site of prominent British biologist Richard Dawkins after complaints from lawyers for Islamic creationist author Adnan Oktar, the website of Turkish television station NTV reported on Wednesday. A court in Istanbul ordered that Turk Telekom block access to the site and since the weekend Turkish internet users seeking the site have been redirected to a page that says in Turkish 'access to this site has been suspended in accordance with a court decision'.

NTV reported that Oktar complained he and his creationist book 'Atlas of Creation' had been defamed by comments made by Dawkins on the site.
'I am at a loss to reconcile the expensive and glossy production values of this book with the breathtaking inanity of the content,' Dawkins, a distinguished advocate of the theory of evolution, wrote on his website in July referring to the Atlas of Creation.

The book has caused controversy not just through its advocation of creationism but also through how thousands of copies of book were distributed to schools in a number of European countries.
Oktar has used the Turkish courts on a number of occasions, the latest being earlier this year when he attempted to have Dawkins' book The God Delusion banned in Turkey on the basis that it was insulting religion but a Turkish court threw the case out.

In August 2007, Oktar, who writes under the pen name Harun Yahya, convinced a Turkish court to block access to millions of web blogs using the Wordpress.com hosting service after finding that a number of blogs carried libellous comments.

In May, Oktar was found guilty of creating an illegal organization for personal gain and sentenced to three years imprisonment. He is appealing the decision.

If Turkey wants to join the EU, they'll have to make sure nothing like this happens. I'm surprised though, considering the secular nature of the courts.

Galvasean · 19-09-2008 3:56pm

So someone write a fair critique of his book and he runs to the courts. I find it hard to believe the courts could let him have his way. Does Dawkins not get to defend himself?

MrPudding · 19-09-2008 3:59pm

Looks like there is some inconsistency, the court refuses to ban The God Delusion and not bans the website...

MrP

ChocolateSauce · 19-09-2008 4:00pm

Apparently not. Does anyone know does Turkey have one of those absurd laws where truth is no defence against defamation?

Dades · 19-09-2008 4:26pm

I'll bet RD is rubbing his hands with glee at the publicity.

pH · 19-09-2008 5:58pm

Pah - He's not even being prosecuted for blasphemy in Jordan, Dawkins is such a lightweight.

Let's hope nothing on his website 'affect the Jordanian people by "electronic means," such as the Internet.'

Zombrex · 19-09-2008 11:56pm

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

If Turkey wants to join the EU, they'll have to make sure nothing like this happens. I'm surprised though, considering the secular nature of the courts.

It seems to be more of an issue of character defamation than religion. Turkey has a very strong secular nature in its legal system.

I imagine someone on Dawkins.net called him a lying crack head, or some such.

Zillah · 19-09-2008 11:59pm

Good. One more reason you can stay out of the EU ya jerks.

Galvasean · 20-09-2008 12:01am

pH wrote: »

Pah - He's not even being prosecuted for blasphemy in Jordan, Dawkins is such a lightweight.

Let's hope nothing on his website 'affect the Jordanian people by "electronic means," such as the Internet.'

Differences of opinion? To jail with you!!!!

CDfm · 20-09-2008 11:33am

I am not so sure its a bad thing Dawkins is a bigot and a nasty piece of work in his own right.

maybe the site has been banned cos hes an ass****;)

Dave! · 20-09-2008 12:26pm

http://richarddawkins.net/article,3139,Turkish-edition-of-The-Ancestors-Tale-sells-out-within-a-day,Sabahcom

Turkish edition of The Ancestor's Tale sells out within a day!

No such thing as bad publicity, eh?

Galvasean · 20-09-2008 12:29pm

CDfm wrote: »

I am not so sure its a bad thing Dawkins is a bigot and a nasty piece of work in his own right.

maybe the site has been banned cos hes an ass****;)

Holy moley, that chip on your shoulder appears to be getting bigger! :eek:

brianthebard · 20-09-2008 12:35pm

Richard Dawkins has a newsletter??? *facepalm*

MrPudding · 20-09-2008 12:38pm

CDfm wrote: »

I am not so sure its a bad thing Dawkins is a bigot and a nasty piece of work in his own right.

maybe the site has been banned cos hes an ass****;)

Still waiting for you do tell us what you would like to see happen to Dawkins, the thing you agree with the creationaists about?

MrP

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 20-09-2008 12:39pm

it's no Socialist workers party weekly, but you might enjoy it.

ChocolateSauce · 20-09-2008 12:56pm

CDfm wrote: »

I am not so sure its a bad thing Dawkins is a bigot and a nasty piece of work in his own right.

maybe the site has been banned cos hes an ass****;)

I'm an ass**** but the Turks let me in.

CDfm · 20-09-2008 12:58pm

MrPudding wrote: »

Still waiting for you do tell us what you would like to see happen to Dawkins, the thing you agree with the creationaists about?

MrP

Prosecuted for blasphemy in Jordan would be a start- I like to keep current.

My suggestion to the Archbishop of Canterbury would be to tell him p*** off and give him a plane ticket to a US fundamentalist convention.

CDfm · 20-09-2008 1:11pm

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

I'm an ass**** but the Turks let me in.

but they let you out again- I never said the Turkish system was perfect::rolleyes:

pH · 20-09-2008 1:14pm

CDfm wrote: »

Prosecuted for blasphemy in Jordan would be a start- I like to keep current.

My suggestion to the Archbishop of Canterbury would be to tell him p*** off and give him a plane ticket to a US fundamentalist convention.

Lucky for him then that the power to deport people has long been taken away from the the CoE.

Any other powers you'd like to see wielded by heads of churches in your utopian theocracy?

CDfm · 20-09-2008 1:26pm

pH wrote: »

Lucky for him then that the power to deport people has long been taken away from the the CoE.

Any other powers you'd like to see wielded by heads of churches in your utopian theocracy?

Wasnt suggesting deportation - just think if he wants to argue with Creationists than it would be an act of Christian charity to point him in the right direction.

I was suggesting if he wants to tackle their ignorance he should go see them and sit down all friendly like just like he does with the Cof E.

Dades · 20-09-2008 2:22pm

There's a reason he doesn't sit down with creationists.

Of which there are an increasing number in the UK, by the way. Just letting you know as you like to keep current.

CDfm · 20-09-2008 2:45pm

Theres a reason all right that he doesnt sit down with Creationists- he is too bloody scared of them he is.

Courageous scientist my ass - bully and cowardly hippocrite is a more apt description.

Whats his biography gonna be called The Wuss Delusion -cos thats what he is.;)

Mena · 20-09-2008 2:56pm

CDfm wrote: »

Theres a reason all right that he doesnt sit down with Creationists- he is too bloody scared of them he is.

Courageous scientist my ass - bully and cowardly hippocrite is a more apt description.

Whats his biography gonna be called The Wuss Delusion -cos thats what he is.;)

Why would anyone sit down with nutjubs and give them an ounce of credibility?

Back to your fairy tales you !!

ChocolateSauce · 20-09-2008 3:07pm

Mena wrote: »

Why would anyone sit down with nutjubs and give them an ounce of credibility?

Back to your fairy tales you !!

Yep, to debate with creationists is to imply they have a valid argument. Do not debate with fools lest ye become one.

Perhaps I should take my own advice?

CDfm · 20-09-2008 3:16pm

Mena wrote: »

Why would anyone sit down with nutjubs and give them an ounce of credibility?

Back to your fairy tales you !!

I have often questioned why the Archbishop of Canterbury gives him( Dawkins) the time of day but then Im not C of E

Dave! · 20-09-2008 3:20pm

Why are ye indulging this chap?

Mena · 20-09-2008 3:28pm

Dave! wrote: »

Why are ye indulging this chap?

The sun is out, us heathen folk hide in the dark when this rare event occurs!

Zillah · 20-09-2008 3:29pm

CDfm wrote: »

Theres a reason all right that he doesnt sit down with Creationists- he is too bloody scared of them he is.

Scared of their willingness to utterly abuse the power that editing gives them. By partaking in an interview you are trusting that the film makers will use that power responsibly.

One should not trust Creationists. They're zealous and desperate.

Dades · 20-09-2008 3:30pm

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

Perhaps I should take my own advice?

Please do.

CDfm · 20-09-2008 3:30pm

Dave! wrote: »

Why are ye indulging this chap?

Whats the problem.

I take in interest and gloated when the site was banned - even ordered a pizza from Dominos - the chicken one with bar-b-q sauce. Heavenly.

Dave! · 20-09-2008 3:52pm

What have you got to gloat about? Dawkins doesn't get paid for his website; he gets commission from his book sales. The publicity generated by his website being banned has resulted in his book selling out within 1 day! Sounds like a bit of a coup to Dawkins tbh

Richarddawkins.net Banned in Turkey

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