Turkey blocks access to Wikipedia, claiming 'smear campaign'

The government of Turkey is blocking access to Wikipedia under a law that allows it to restrict access to material that is considered to be a threat to national security.
"After technical analysis and legal consideration ... an administrative measure has been taken for this website (Wikipedia.Org)," a telecom watchdog said in a statement, according to Reuters. Turkish law allows authorities to ban entire websites if the content is deemed obscene or poses a threat to national security or the well-being of the public.

Turkey's communications ministry argued that the website attempted to run a "smear campaign" against the country by allowing certain articles to claim that the Turkish government coordinated with militant groups. "Instead of coordinating against terrorism, it has become part of an information source which is running a smear campaign against Turkey in the international arena," the ministry said.

The government said the ban will be lifted if Wikipedia complies with its demands.