Is freedom of speech real in Turkey?

Question

Is freedom of speech real in Turkey?

Answer 1

The military has a lot of power in Turkey and pretty much controls the government, little bit like a dictatorship (think Pakistan where government is "democratically" elected but leader is a military man).

Turkey also has a long history of conquest and occupation, enslaving Greeks, Armenians, Kurds. They even performed genocide and a holocaust against the Armenians.

I don't think that in a country like that that there would be true freedom o speech. h**l, we don't even get TRUE freedom of speech in the U.S.A. I think that there is freedom of some speech in Turkey as long as it does not go against the governement or military establishement.

Anyway, this is why the EU should NEVER allow Turkey to join.

Answer 2

nope,  Turkey is just put in the oven, no questions asked

Answer 3

No. If you say bad things about the Turkish government you can still be arrested for slanderig the state...

Don't refer to Turkey as a turkey.

Answer 4

it's always so funny to see how prejudiced people can get when "discussing" about my country.

it is not a heaven for freedom of speech; that's obvious. but freedom of speech is a very relative term and every country has different views on that; nowhere is %100 free.

I give you an example; someone above already mentioned the Armenian "genocide" or "holocaust" whatever. I will not discuss whether these terms are valid or not.

there is an open discussion going on turkey right now on this topic. I have this weekly books magazine from this week which has ads/presentations related to books which were published in the week before.

The magazine is totally legal and is available everywhere in Turkey.

now; one ad is about a book by Taner Akcam, a Turkish historian who thinks that the genocide took place. the book's title of course clearly claims about the genocide and the ad says; "for those of you, who choose to learn about the facts rather than believing in what you have been hearing"

but if you would try to publish a book in France or Switzerland  claiming that events during that time could not be called genocide; here is what would have happened. first of all, you would NOT be allowed to publish the book; secondly even if you did you would be put to prison for a period of as long as 3 - THREE years.

you decide.