14 DAY TRIAL // As things heat up in Turkey, social media users are no longer safe. 25 people have been arrested for using Twitter and social media to stoke the anti-government movement.
The police are saying that the suspects have been detained for “spreading untrue information” and inciting people to join demonstration, the Guardian reports.
The measures come after Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that Twitter was a “menace to society.” He further added that the best examples of lies could be found on the popular site.
Considering that Turkey’s state-run media screened documentaries instead of covering the protests that have taken over the country, any sort of media that helps inform people of what is happening is bound to be treated the same as Twitter.
The arrested Twitter users are all between 20 and 25 years old. They’ve shared information about the location of police officers, blocked streets and meeting times and places for protesters.
A week ago, Istanbul was still peaceful, as people protested against the redevelopment of a park in the historic Taksim district. However, as police became involved, it all transformed into an anti-government protest, with tens of thousands of Turkish people acting against their Prime Minister.
The list of issues they protest against includes some new laws that aim to ban advertisements for alcoholic beverages, as well as selling alcohol within 300 feet of a mosque or school. Many consider these to be a big step back in the country’s evolution.
The clash between those who believe that the country should follow a more eastern direction of evolution and those who want to return to the Islamic roots seems to be growing in size and many fear the protests are going to take a turn soon unless either side steps down.
Considering how things have been going on lately, this seems unlikely.