President Sezer Endorses Internet Law

Yesterday President Ahmet Necdet Sezer ratified Law No. 5651 on "the preparation of Internet publications and crimes connected with these publications"

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Protecting the public and Ataturk's memory

Under the new law, it will be a punishable offence to provide web space to encourage suicide, sexual exploitation of children, pornography, prostitution or gambling, or to facilitate the use of drugs or the supply of dangerous substances.

The same law will also obstruct internet publications criticising Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.

Critics have claimed that the law is an unsuccessful patchwork of former laws which will cause confusion and excessive censorship.(EÖ/TK/AG)