Richarddawkins.net Banned in Turkey

ChocolateSauce

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/science/news/article_1431422.php/Turkey_bans_biologist_Richard_Dawkins_website

I just got this from the RD newsletter.

Ankara - Turkish internet users have been blocked via a court order from accessing the site of prominent British biologist Richard Dawkins after complaints from lawyers for Islamic creationist author Adnan Oktar, the website of Turkish television station NTV reported on Wednesday. A court in Istanbul ordered that Turk Telekom block access to the site and since the weekend Turkish internet users seeking the site have been redirected to a page that says in Turkish 'access to this site has been suspended in accordance with a court decision'.

NTV reported that Oktar complained he and his creationist book 'Atlas of Creation' had been defamed by comments made by Dawkins on the site.
'I am at a loss to reconcile the expensive and glossy production values of this book with the breathtaking inanity of the content,' Dawkins, a distinguished advocate of the theory of evolution, wrote on his website in July referring to the Atlas of Creation.

The book has caused controversy not just through its advocation of creationism but also through how thousands of copies of book were distributed to schools in a number of European countries.
Oktar has used the Turkish courts on a number of occasions, the latest being earlier this year when he attempted to have Dawkins' book The God Delusion banned in Turkey on the basis that it was insulting religion but a Turkish court threw the case out.

In August 2007, Oktar, who writes under the pen name Harun Yahya, convinced a Turkish court to block access to millions of web blogs using the Wordpress.com hosting service after finding that a number of blogs carried libellous comments.

In May, Oktar was found guilty of creating an illegal organization for personal gain and sentenced to three years imprisonment. He is appealing the decision.

If Turkey wants to join the EU, they'll have to make sure nothing like this happens. I'm surprised though, considering the secular nature of the courts.

Galvasean

So someone write a fair critique of his book and he runs to the courts. I find it hard to believe the courts could let him have his way. Does Dawkins not get to defend himself?

MrPudding

Looks like there is some inconsistency, the court refuses to ban The God Delusion and not bans the website...

MrP

ChocolateSauce

Apparently not. Does anyone know does Turkey have one of those absurd laws where truth is no defence against defamation?

Dades

I'll bet RD is rubbing his hands with glee at the publicity.

pH

Pah - He's not even being prosecuted for blasphemy in Jordan, Dawkins is such a lightweight.

Let's hope nothing on his website 'affect the Jordanian people by "electronic means," such as the Internet.'

Zombrex

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

If Turkey wants to join the EU, they'll have to make sure nothing like this happens. I'm surprised though, considering the secular nature of the courts.

It seems to be more of an issue of character defamation than religion. Turkey has a very strong secular nature in its legal system.

I imagine someone on Dawkins.net called him a lying crack head, or some such.

Zillah

Good. One more reason you can stay out of the EU ya jerks.

Galvasean

pH wrote: »

Pah - He's not even being prosecuted for blasphemy in Jordan, Dawkins is such a lightweight.

Let's hope nothing on his website 'affect the Jordanian people by "electronic means," such as the Internet.'

Differences of opinion? To jail with you!!!!

CDfm

I am not so sure its a bad thing Dawkins is a bigot and a nasty piece of work in his own right.

maybe the site has been banned cos hes an ass****;)

Dave!

http://richarddawkins.net/article,3139,Turkish-edition-of-The-Ancestors-Tale-sells-out-within-a-day,Sabahcom

Turkish edition of The Ancestor's Tale sells out within a day!



No such thing as bad publicity, eh?

Galvasean

CDfm wrote: »

I am not so sure its a bad thing Dawkins is a bigot and a nasty piece of work in his own right.

maybe the site has been banned cos hes an ass****;)

Holy moley, that chip on your shoulder appears to be getting bigger! :eek:

brianthebard

Richard Dawkins has a newsletter??? *facepalm*

MrPudding

CDfm wrote: »

I am not so sure its a bad thing Dawkins is a bigot and a nasty piece of work in his own right.

maybe the site has been banned cos hes an ass****;)

Still waiting for you do tell us what you would like to see happen to Dawkins, the thing you agree with the creationaists about?

MrP

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

it's no Socialist workers party weekly, but you might enjoy it.

ChocolateSauce

CDfm wrote: »

I am not so sure its a bad thing Dawkins is a bigot and a nasty piece of work in his own right.

maybe the site has been banned cos hes an ass****;)

I'm an ass**** but the Turks let me in.

CDfm

MrPudding wrote: »

Still waiting for you do tell us what you would like to see happen to Dawkins, the thing you agree with the creationaists about?

MrP

Prosecuted for blasphemy in Jordan would be a start- I like to keep current.

My suggestion to the Archbishop of Canterbury would be to tell him p*** off and give him a plane ticket to a US fundamentalist convention.

CDfm

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

I'm an ass**** but the Turks let me in.

but they let you out again- I never said the Turkish system was perfect::rolleyes:

pH

CDfm wrote: »

Prosecuted for blasphemy in Jordan would be a start- I like to keep current.

My suggestion to the Archbishop of Canterbury would be to tell him p*** off and give him a plane ticket to a US fundamentalist convention.

Lucky for him then that the power to deport people has long been taken away from the the CoE.

Any other powers you'd like to see wielded by heads of churches in your utopian theocracy?

CDfm

pH wrote: »

Lucky for him then that the power to deport people has long been taken away from the the CoE.

Any other powers you'd like to see wielded by heads of churches in your utopian theocracy?

Wasnt suggesting deportation - just think if he wants to argue with Creationists than it would be an act of Christian charity to point him in the right direction.

I was suggesting if he wants to tackle their ignorance he should go see them and sit down all friendly like just like he does with the Cof E.

Dades

There's a reason he doesn't sit down with creationists.

Of which there are an increasing number in the UK, by the way. Just letting you know as you like to keep current.

CDfm

Theres a reason all right that he doesnt sit down with Creationists- he is too bloody scared of them he is.

Courageous scientist my ass - bully and cowardly hippocrite is a more apt description.

Whats his biography gonna be called The Wuss Delusion -cos thats what he is.;)

Mena

CDfm wrote: »

Theres a reason all right that he doesnt sit down with Creationists- he is too bloody scared of them he is.

Courageous scientist my ass - bully and cowardly hippocrite is a more apt description.

Whats his biography gonna be called The Wuss Delusion -cos thats what he is.;)

Why would anyone sit down with nutjubs and give them an ounce of credibility?

Back to your fairy tales you !!

ChocolateSauce

Mena wrote: »

Why would anyone sit down with nutjubs and give them an ounce of credibility?

Back to your fairy tales you !!

Yep, to debate with creationists is to imply they have a valid argument. Do not debate with fools lest ye become one.

Perhaps I should take my own advice?

CDfm

Mena wrote: »

Why would anyone sit down with nutjubs and give them an ounce of credibility?

Back to your fairy tales you !!

I have often questioned why the Archbishop of Canterbury gives him( Dawkins) the time of day but then Im not C of E

Dave!

Why are ye indulging this chap?

Mena

Dave! wrote: »

Why are ye indulging this chap?

The sun is out, us heathen folk hide in the dark when this rare event occurs!

Zillah

CDfm wrote: »

Theres a reason all right that he doesnt sit down with Creationists- he is too bloody scared of them he is.

Scared of their willingness to utterly abuse the power that editing gives them. By partaking in an interview you are trusting that the film makers will use that power responsibly.

One should not trust Creationists. They're zealous and desperate.

Dades

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

Perhaps I should take my own advice?

Please do.

CDfm

Dave! wrote: »

Why are ye indulging this chap?

Whats the problem.

I take in interest and gloated when the site was banned - even ordered a pizza from Dominos - the chicken one with bar-b-q sauce. Heavenly.

Dave!

What have you got to gloat about? Dawkins doesn't get paid for his website; he gets commission from his book sales. The publicity generated by his website being banned has resulted in his book selling out within 1 day! Sounds like a bit of a coup to Dawkins tbh

Galvasean

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

Do not debate with fools lest ye become one.

They just drag you down to their level and use their years of experience to pummel you into submission!

CDfm wrote: »

even ordered a pizza from Dominos - the chicken one with bar-b-q sauce. Heavenly.

Beware the foul treats of Satan, what is delicious today is heart problems tomorrow! :eek:

CDfm

Dave! wrote: »

What have you got to gloat about? Dawkins doesn't get paid for his website; he gets commission from his book sales. The publicity generated by his website being banned has resulted in his book selling out within 1 day! Sounds like a bit of a coup to Dawkins tbh

It must have been a slow day at the bookshop or a bookburning.

Of course, ya know means that more and more people are getting misinformed by him.

His PR machine must be working overtime to perpetuate the myth that christianity and creationism are synonymous and interchangeable.

When in fact they are not and refer to a bunch of breakaway christians outside the mainstream churches.Why they are called fundamentalists is beyond me.

I suspect when people use the phrase christian to describe creationists they are either doing it on purpose as a wind up or clearly dont have enough understanding of theology. Lets face it -you dont read Dawkins for theological accuracy.

Have read loads of posts by what otherwise seem as well informed and educated people do that over and over.

Galvasean

CDfm wrote: »

It must have been a slow day at the bookshop

No, they sold out. Keep up!

CDfm wrote: »

or a bookburning.

Ah yes, where would Iron Maiden be today if the nutjobs didn't buy up all the copies of Number of the Beast to burn them?

CDfm

Galvasean wrote: »

They just drag you down to their level and use their years of experience to pummel you into submission!




Beware the foul treats of Satan, what is delicious today is heart problems tomorrow! :eek:

Must have been the posts I read by Chocolatesauce ....must get into the light qui....

ChocolateSauce

Eww....Domino's?

Yek....had it 4 times in 3 outlets on two continents in seperate hemispheres it it tasted the same (food-poisoningly disgusting) each time.

Well I am in a church where the first sacrament is chocolate sauce!

CDfm

Galvasean wrote: »

No, they sold out. Keep up!



Ah yes, where would Iron Maiden be today if the nutjobs didn't buy up all the copies of Number of the Beast to burn them?

ya wouldnt do that to Iron Maiden- met the singer a few years back in a church-used to be a choirster.

Now Burzum and those death metal chappies you wouldnt want them in your church theyd rob the candles

CDfm

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

Eww....Domino's?

Yek....had it 4 times in 3 outlets on two continents in seperate hemispheres it it tasted the same (food-poisoningly disgusting) each time.

Well I am in a church where the first sacrament is chocolate sauce!

and you went back for more ..........can almost here Alice Cooper into to the Black Widow -Devils food:eek:

Galvasean

CDfm wrote: »

ya wouldnt do that to Iron Maiden- met the singer a few years back in a church-used to be a choirster.

I believe Nicko McBrain (the drummer AFAIR) is very much a Christian.
But I digress.

ChocolateSauce

I didn't go back for more! I just happened to be in a group of people who ordered dominos, so I had no choice! I swear it! :eek:

CDfm

Galvasean wrote: »

I believe Nicko McBrain (the drummer AFAIR) is very much a Christian.
But I digress.

and the leader of Metalicca and good old Alice :cool:

CDfm

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

I didn't go back for more! I just happened to be in a group of people who ordered dominos, so I had no choice! I swear it! :eek:

but ya cant resist chocolate .......them Cadburys were godfeain folk :cool:

ChocolateSauce

CDfm wrote: »

but ya cant resist chocolate .......them Cadburys were godfeain folk :cool:

Especially when it is spilled on the naked flesh of someone whom I find attractive. That's what the church is all about .

CDfm

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

Especially when it is spilled on the naked flesh of someone whom I find attractive. That's what the church is all about .

LOL -

OK-Cancel-Apply

Zillah wrote: »

Scared of their willingness to utterly abuse the power that editing gives them. By partaking in an interview you are trusting that the film makers will use that power responsibly.

One should not trust Creationists. They're zealous and desperate.

The best they ever did was edit a video of Dawkins being asked a question. They asked the question, let him think about it for a few seconds, and then cut it. They claimed he was 'stumped'. The joke was on them, however, when the FULL clip came out. We got to see his answer.

That's the thing - honest men of science don't always expect such gutter tactics from the opposition. People like Dawkins have trouble sniffing out those kinds of people. I remember reading one of Brian May's blogs, where he complained about the same phenomenon (he was responding to a reader's email). A reader was trying to advise Brian on the best way to deal with reporters asking loaded questions.

Zillah

No, what they did was take a 40 second clip where we has thinking about whether to throw them out or not after he discovered they were Creationists, and edited in a fairly simple question on evolution before it.

CDfm

Now Im all confused.

Richard Dawkins normally rants about creationism and takes the argument against christians who are not creationists.

So whats the big deal if someone has a bit of fun with him.Its not as if he doesnt manipulate media himself. Personally the pause made sense as it showed what Richard Dawkins actually knows about mainstream christianity which is nothing.

Ive said it before like Jane Goody and Kerry Katona hey is addicted to publicity. This was just a "did anyone see me on TV stunt". Its just another stunt to get attention.A tantrum.

Mainstream Christians think he is just some crackpot arguing about theology with only a superficial knowledge of it. That he has supporters who cite him as if his works his works were gospel means they to are not taken seriously when discussing religion.

ITs been said by others this whole "atheists are intelligent "argument is a bit much.

Zillah

What the hell are you talking about? Its a bit like you're in your own little world, emerge now and then to post here about what you saw, and then return to la la land.

CDfm

Zillah wrote: »

What the hell are you talking about? Its a bit like you're in your own little world, emerge now and then to post here about what you saw, and then return to la la land.

Actually Zillah - its a television editing technique - you see it as nodding often in outside broadcasting.

Its where television producers etc edit a piece to give tempo and continuity and will cut to a head shot to give it dramatic pace or effect.Watch some Maury filmed in front of a live audience - even Questions and answers is edited and the people from the audience posing the questions are "plants"

YOu dont seriously think that when reporters ask questions the interviewee isnt sometimes scratching his head or picking his nose that they dont cover it up..

So Dawkins got edited in something that wasnt a live broadcast and we are supposed to buy into a conspiracy theory. It happened to Queen Elisabeth in a photoshoot - Colm O S****** the poet says it happened to him etc.

ITs not unusual. Its no big deal.

Zillah

You clearly don't understand.

What actually happened:
Richard Dawkins, an expert on evolutionary theory, is asked a basic question about evolution. He answers it in detail.*

What they made it appear to have happened:
Richard Dawkins, an expert on evolutionary theory, is asked a basic question about evolution. He looks awkward and hums and haws for a full forty seconds.

If you think thats the same as general editing/tidying up then I should probably not try to speak with you. Try to imagine if the Pope was in an interview and he was asked if he really believed in Jesus, and he appeared to spend the next minute looking confused and doubtful. Thats the scale of deceit we're discussing here.

*I don't quite remember. It was either what I said above, or he was never even asked the question in the interview and they inserted the question later. Either way, he addressed the question in great detail in an essay online later.

Mena

CDfm wrote: »

Now Im all confused.

Richard Dawkins normally rants about creationism and takes the argument against christians who are not creationists.

So whats the big deal if someone has a bit of fun with him.Its not as if he doesnt manipulate media himself. Personally the pause made sense as it showed what Richard Dawkins actually knows about mainstream christianity which is nothing.

Ive said it before like Jane Goody and Kerry Katona hey is addicted to publicity. This was just a "did anyone see me on TV stunt". Its just another stunt to get attention.A tantrum.

Mainstream Christians think he is just some crackpot arguing about theology with only a superficial knowledge of it. That he has supporters who cite him as if his works his works were gospel means they to are not taken seriously when discussing religion.

ITs been said by others this whole "atheists are intelligent "argument is a bit much.

Over and above Zillah's response, this post clearly shows you've never read anything done by Dawkins. I don't mind someone trying to tear him apart, but perhaps you could actually give it a proper attempt once you'd read his works, instead of regurgitating stock responses from other sources.