Wikipedia access restored in Turkey after court ruled against ban

Access to Wikipedia was restored in Turkey on Wednesday after more than 2 1/2 years, the Wikimedia foundation announced. 

The access comes after Turkey’s highest court ruled at the end of last year against the country’s ban on the website, calling it a violation of freedom of expression. 

“We are thrilled to be reunited with the people of Turkey,” Katherine Maher, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, said in a statement. “At Wikimedia we are committed to protecting everyone’s fundamental right to access information. We are excited to share this important moment with our Turkish contributor community on behalf of knowledge-seekers everywhere.”

Turkey blocked access to Wikipedia in April 2017 under a law that allows it to restrict access to material that is considered to be a threat to national security.

Turkey’s communications ministry had argued that the website attempted to run a “smear campaign” against the country by allowing certain articles to claim that the Turkish government coordinated with militant groups. 

Wikipedia reportedly petitioned the Constitutional Court after talks with Turkish officials and a challenge in lower courts failed.