Above: Riot police use water cannons to disperse demonstrators during a protest against internet censorship in Istanbul February 8, 2014. (Reuters / Osman Orsal).
Turkey police use tear gas to disperse protest against new internet controls
Turkish police have fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds of protesters rallying against “draconian” internet laws approved by parliament.
Police approached the crowd along Istanbul’s Istiklal Avenue and fired water cannons from behind armored vehicles as protesters tried to march to the city’s main square.
“Everywhere is bribery, everywhere is corruption,” protesters chanted.
As riot police fired water cannons at protesters, some of them responded by throwing stones or setting off fireworks aimed at law enforcement officers.
The new bill was passed late Wednesday by the parliament dominated by the Erdogan’s AKP party.
If the president approves the legislation, it would give authorities the power to block web pages without a court order within just hours.
Riot police use water cannons to disperse demonstrators during a protest against internet censorship in Istanbul February 8, 2014. (Reuters / Osman Orsal)It would also require internet service providers (ISPs) to store data on their clients’ online activities for two years and provide it to the authorities on request.
The bill amends Law No. 5651, widely known as Turkey’s Internet Law that came into effect in July 2007.
The opposition says the move is part of a government bid to stifle a corruption scandal.
Prepared by the Ministry of Family and Social Policy, the bill provoked mass rallies in mid-January, shortly after it was announced. The protest was dispersed by riot police who used water cannons and tear gas against hundreds of opponents of the bill.
Riot police use water cannons to disperse demonstrators during a protest against internet censorship in Istanbul February 8, 2014. (Reuters / Osman Orsal)