Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has targeted the internet and social media as his government faces a rising wave of protests. He described social media as a "plague," and charged that false accusations and entirely fabricated claims were being spread via Twitter and Facebook.
On Wednesday, police in the city of Izmir arrested at least 25 Twitter users among the ranks of protesters there on allegations of inciting unrest and spreading propaganda. The arrests have outraged the opposition, which has called them the latest example of the arbitrary manner in which the authorities are dealing with critics. Those arrested were all young people, said Sevda Erkan Kilic, a lawyer and politician from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), according to the Hurriyet Daily News. She was part of a delegation that went to the police to argue that the allegations were exaggerated. Among the messages were Twitter posts such as "the police are coming" or "Resistance, let's not leave the square." Other texts issued a call for doctors, or poked fun at the clouds of tear gas from the grenades fired by police.
The important role of social media in the protest activities is seen in Gezi Park in Istanbul, where the turmoil started. There, next to a toilet facility, is a mobile phone charging station for the protesters. A dozen smartphones are attached to it, the electricity drawn from a portable generator.
"The internet is very important for our protest activities," says Eren, a student, while charging his phone. "With Twitter and Facebook we can reach thousands of people in a simple way." Eren is upset by the arrests of the Twitter users. "This is nothing less than a ban on free thought."
Another protester, Piril, has been involved in the demonstrations for the past five days and is angered by the "self censorship" of the Turkish media. "We have a television society here," she says. "So when the protests are not broadcast on TV, it means that for many people they do not exist." Piril adds: "Twitter is above all important for arranging supplies." For example, after the clashes in the district of Besiktas, doctors used the internet to appeal for medication and bandages.
"And it worked," Piril said. "People who themselves were not out protesting came here with medication." Ozlem, 27, said the arrests of bloggers was the "expected reflex of the Turkish government." The aim is to try to place the blame for the clashes on a small peripheral group, she said. But the fact is that the protests are supported by many Turks, Ozlem added.
Critics say the arrests have drawn attention to how Erdogan and his government deal with detractors. Watchdog group Reporters Without Borders says Turkey ranks 154th of 179 countries when it comes to freedom of the press. In January, the group said that "never since the end of the military regime in 1983 have so many journalists been in jail than is the case today."
And as if to prove the accusation, most of the major Turkish television broadcasters have barely reported on the protests, as pitched battles were under way on the streets. Erdogan's opponents say that he has, over the years, brought many media groups under his sway. So for the demonstrators, social media is the only alternative to get out their message.
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