If anything has characterized the recent history
of the Middle East is the lack of freedom of its citizens under the different
types of oppression imposed by the governments in the region. This lack of
freedom resulted in the restriction if not complete suppression of freedom of
speech, opinion, information, movement and political exercise.
Not surprisingly, Iran could take another step
against differentiation. Article 5 of the Iranian Constitution states:
The official language and script of Iran, the
lingua franca of its people, is Persian. Official documents, correspondence and
texts and textbooks, must be in this language and script. However, it also
allows the Persian, the use of regional and tribal languages in the press and media as well as for teaching of their literature in
schools.
The Academy of Persian Language and Literature
has recommended Rohani government not to apply this article since it undermines
the unity of the country and the development of the Persian language.
Assimilation, and if this is not effective, the elimination of the
"others" is what differentiates the totalitarian states from
democracies.
The cultural and social richness of a country
derives from the diversity of its citizens. In the case of Iran, a transit of
Eastern and Western civilizations, this can be seen in the 16% of the
population that is of Azeri origin, 10% Kurdish, Baloch 2%, Turkmen and Arabs,
and to a lesser measure Pashtuns, Armenians, Georgians, Assyrians and Jews. If
this proposal by the Persian Academy was to be implemented a 40% of the
population living in Iran would be deprived of the right to speak in their
mother tongue in order to unify and rule the Persian culture and language. Another
disgusting event to add to the long list of outrages of the Persian regime to
which we are already accustomed to.
What it is a matter of surprise - not to those
who are aware and have been announcing and denounced the authoritarian drive of
Erdogan - is that a country, "theoretically" democratic, like Turkey,
is in the process of passing a legislation that restricts the dissemination of
information especially online. If this new legislation is finally approved, the
Telecommunications Authority of this country could have unrestricted access to
the online activities of users and increase its ability to block content
without judicial authorization. It also would require providers to collect and
retain information about its users for up to two years. Another way to lock up
information in a country that has, since 2007, blocked access to 1,112 internet
pages[1].
Not satisfied with the application of a firm hand
on the streets to quell protests against his policies of radical Islamization
Erdogan wants to "stop" the dissemination of any information or
criticism, especially after the disclosure of the extent of the corruption in
his government. Turkey is well known for its constant attack on reporters. As a
matter of fact Turkey is the country that has imprisoned more journalists
worldwide in 2013[2].
Now Erdogan wants to stop the only leakage of information out his control:
internet. According to the Turkish research company Konda[3], 77.6 % of those who
protested for Taksim Square got information through the network of networks. No
wonder Erdogan described the social networks as "the greatest threat to
society."
With this law, Turkey would become part of the
select club of countries censoring information online, namely Saudi Arabia,
North Korea, Iran, Turkmenistan and Vietnam, among others. This step should
definitely remove its aspirations to join the European Union.
The news blackout is a common practice in Turkey.
It has been doing so since its foundation in 1923 especially regarding the
status of Kurdistan and its denial of the Armenian genocide. Moreover it has
imprisoned anyone who criticized its repressive policy.
Meanwhile, the Turks, especially young people for
whom Internet is a fundamental basis for communication and interaction, have
taken to the streets to protest again. Erdogan may turn a deaf ear to this new
demand and approve the Internet law, but certainly will pay a heavy price in
next elections, though we will probably know nothing about it because of
censorship.
