Turkey bans biologist Richard Dawkins' website302. Comment #252922 by Mitchie2006 on September 23, 2008 at 9:56 pm
This whole affair is pathetic and completely contemptable.303. Comment #253150 by Atheist_Turkish on September 24, 2008 at 6:31 am
The comments against Turkey's membership to EU are as destructive as the court case of the lunatic Adnan Oktar.304. Comment #253217 by TurkishAtheist on September 24, 2008 at 7:48 am
305. Comment #253342 by Atheist_Turkish on September 24, 2008 at 10:20 am
To the commentators who are against Turkey's membership to the EU:306. Comment #253366 by Be-leave-me on September 24, 2008 at 11:21 am
Accepting the flaws of your nation is something, knowing the difference between the ignorants and the intelligent ones is something else. Id wouldn't help any one if you try to be 'bright' by saying 'Oh I am Turkish and I don't think we deserve the EU'. That is pathetic. Emotions and romance have nothing to do with this particular issue. I live in Turkey and I am as secular, intelligent, bright and aware as the rest of the civilized world. I've been to Amnerica, Europe (actually born and lived there), Africa and I can guarantee you, there are ignorants and ignorance as much as in Turkey. There are hatred, racism and other ignorances in Germany, Netherlands, USA, Africa and so on. Should we want these European countries banned from the EU?307. Comment #253538 by petramann on September 24, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Am I suprised, not at all. Back in 1993, just because one of their atheist writers Aziz Nesin wanted to translate Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses into Turkish, the radical Islamists set fire to the Madimak hotel where Nesin was staying. As a result 37 people were killed*. Instead of putting a memorial at the ground level of the hotel they have opened a kebab restaurant! A country that has no respect for its own people, has no respect for foreigners.308. Comment #253553 by Be-leave-me on September 24, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Hmmm, American cops beating a black man, american goverment virtually leaving the black people to death in New Orleans, Nazi's burning down houses and apartments of Turkish people and killing them in Germany in the past and recently, the xenophobia and racism that is wide spread in the Netherlands as well in other EU cauntries.. wow, I'm blown away how respectful the rest of the world to foreigners and other races are.. :)309. Comment #253569 by berkopath on September 24, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Dear Be-Leave-Me,310. Comment #253578 by petramann on September 24, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Hmm... lets look at the difference between Germany and Turkey:311. Comment #253736 by Hellene on September 24, 2008 at 9:19 pm
312. Comment #253862 by mistralgagnant on September 25, 2008 at 1:37 am
@petramann - you are absolutely right about the attitude of my people against foreigners. we are not exactly the most humanist people on the earth, and this is our biggest problem. the main thing is, though, you know how nationalisms feed each other, right? so, it is absolutely necessary to express these problems, but without falling into racism/ethnocentrism trap.313. Comment #253874 by gamerunknown on September 25, 2008 at 1:55 am
314. Comment #253915 by berkopath on September 25, 2008 at 3:12 am
Comment #253874 by gamerunknown315. Comment #253926 by Be-leave-me on September 25, 2008 at 3:58 am
Petramann,316. Comment #253932 by Atheist_Turkish on September 25, 2008 at 4:07 am
Comment #253874 by gamerunknown317. Comment #253937 by mistralgagnant on September 25, 2008 at 4:12 am
chill out berkopath and atheist_turkish; gamerunknown was referring to the inflammatory posts made by fanusi.318. Comment #254039 by oekaki on September 25, 2008 at 7:50 am
See the number of unique visitors to richarddawkins.net from Turkey:319. Comment #254059 by KidKoala on September 25, 2008 at 8:54 am
320. Comment #254796 by ozlem on September 26, 2008 at 8:12 am
I am from Turkey, Richard Dawkins official web site is not banned here even i find it pretty ridiculous that there is a banner on the top of the opening page of web site which claims "banned in Turkey" right next to our national flag.321. Comment #254965 by mindthegap200 on September 26, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Off topic but it made me laugh:322. Comment #254972 by muhtesem insan on September 26, 2008 at 2:06 pm
323. Comment #254977 by Be-leave-me on September 26, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Ozlem,324. Comment #255267 by f451 on September 27, 2008 at 7:05 am
I am from Turkey, Richard Dawkins official web site is not banned here even i find it pretty ridiculous that there is a banner on the top of the opening page of web site which claims "banned in Turkey" right next to our national flag.
What a shame, millions of people are deceived by this false news
325. Comment #255302 by notsobad on September 27, 2008 at 9:10 am
326. Comment #255722 by Xaarnak on September 28, 2008 at 4:07 am
You do know all this about Turkey banning this site is utter bullshit, don't you..? I'm posting from my home in Istanbul - and I don't use any proxy or anything similar...327. Comment #256111 by goTurk on September 28, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Instead of continue to bash Turkey by Hellene(ic) haters, why don't everyone start defending freedom of speech in very European country of Italy NOW.328. Comment #256114 by Goldy on September 28, 2008 at 6:36 pm
329. Comment #256120 by Goldy on September 28, 2008 at 6:51 pm
New terms in the evolution debate
Professor Anthony C T North suggests that scientists should start referring to Darwin's Theory of Evolution as "Darwin's Laws of Evolution" in order to avoid confusion with the non-scientific use of the word "theory" as meaning a hunch or guess (letter, 22 September).
This seems to me to be a dangerous route to take, as it is likely to move us from frying pan to inferno. In non-scientific terms, laws (like "commandments") are immutable, are imposed by some higher authority and enforce particular behaviour. In science, "law" is usually adopted for fundamental invariable facts of the physical world. Scientific theories, however, are coherent descriptive models that fit observations, allow predictions to be made and are falsifiable. Above all they demonstrate the humility of science, as theories are ready to be modified or abandoned altogether if new knowledge finds them lacking.
I suggest that, rather than abandon a perfectly good word, which is correctly used in the case of evolutionary theory, we should encourage the frequent use of other excellent words that indicate ideas that are less well-founded than are established scientific theories. Hence "The God Supposition", "The Creation Hypothesis" and "The Intelligent Design Conjecture".
Ian Quayle
FOWNHOPE, Herefordshire
330. Comment #256124 by Diacanu on September 28, 2008 at 6:58 pm
You cannot do us what you did to defenseless Jews 60 years ago.. We will not let it...
331. Comment #256378 by idil on September 29, 2008 at 5:15 am
im turkish now im writing from vienna when i heard that richard dawkins website has became blocked in turkey i felt so sad really but its not about turkish people , religion or something else like that we cant use youtube too in turkey but we hate all of diese things and we re trying to change it (and im sorry about my english . . )ive became a member of this site because of i ve saw our flag, turkish flag at the beginning and its not good because when a person do it ,it means its all about turkish people but its not . .if u can change it ll be more better . . thanks. .332. Comment #256425 by goTurk on September 29, 2008 at 6:06 am
"Wow, there's some hardcore paranoia there.333. Comment #256522 by illuyankas on September 29, 2008 at 7:50 am
In Turkey They Also Banned Youtube.com Dailymotion.com Geocities.com and other 1112 ( And Unfortuntely Counting) Portals...334. Comment #256735 by UlytauKilij on September 29, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Hello to everybody i writing from Turkiye and seems there is no problem right now....335. Comment #257272 by berkopath on September 30, 2008 at 9:08 am
I do not agree to the ideas that are suggesting about the Turkish flag removal from the homepage of this site. If you re on the side of those who are against the "filtering" of the Internet sites in Turkey, than you should support any action against Turkey as also being a one who supports the freedom of speech/expression/living.336. Comment #257525 by greekatheist on September 30, 2008 at 2:50 pm
337. Comment #257607 by bleu on September 30, 2008 at 6:43 pm
if you too are living in a country, that sharlatan islamists are ruling; you should not be suprised that a sharlatan-cleric-drug dealer who calls himself "Yahya" would be a definite king.338. Comment #258428 by zekopasa on October 2, 2008 at 2:46 am
this man uses religion for getting money from young and unemployed boys and girls who has a rich family. this fact is known for years. this "bilim araştırma vakfı" or these books, all of them are eyewash for earning new rich fool followers. i think this explains how he efford the cost of these books.339. Comment #258445 by Be-leave-me on October 2, 2008 at 3:20 am
Berkpath,340. Comment #259508 by Hugo on October 3, 2008 at 12:52 pm
341. Comment #260018 by alegalite on October 4, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Very unfortunate for Turkey. I am ashamed of my country's actions conflicting with freedom of speech. Since when Turkish Government hinders scientific work?! Youtube is also banned in Turkey. They are getting closer to Iran in mentality and trying to join EU. That's ridiculous.342. Comment #260139 by berkopath on October 4, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Be-leave-me,343. Comment #260307 by brezza on October 5, 2008 at 8:00 am
as a Turkish woman I read all of the comments above with a lot of sadness. i am in sheer horror in fact i can enter this site because i am in italy at the moment.344. Comment #260444 by berkopath on October 5, 2008 at 2:13 pm
brezza,345. Comment #260583 by quirinus on October 5, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Hey Turks, whats the problem with you? Islamic pride under an atheist cover? Wake up Turkey is not what we want to see, Where are Bahriye Ucok? Ugur Mumcu? Turan Dursun? Ahmet Taner Kislali? they are all but street names somewhere what happened to them?346. Comment #260638 by Hellene on October 5, 2008 at 7:26 pm
347. Comment #260674 by tvictor on October 5, 2008 at 9:34 pm
348. Comment #260763 by Eirik Hassel on October 6, 2008 at 2:44 am
Spreading lies, raping and blackmailing.. Wow, is he a valuable resource to the world or what?349. Comment #261253 by orkunuslu on October 6, 2008 at 2:57 pm
To Beanson :350. Comment #262439 by lemehmet on October 8, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I am Turkish and I am living in Turkey and I have to use the Internet connection provided by the Telco monopoly that obeys such rulings. So I may be doing something illegal by accessing this web site, but maybe not. Because the law makers had no understanding of The Internet, so the law in questions is practically useless or if you are a blatant scam like Adnan Oktar useful for any purpose.This article is reposted from a website that accepts comments.
Why not share your comment on the article there as well? CLICK HERE
301. Comment #252897 by Be-leave-me on September 23, 2008 at 7:37 pm
People saying 'Bad Turkey, no EU for you' and stupid things like that, missing the fact that not all Turkish people are represented by the current goverment. In fact, the enlightened and intelligent ones are strictly against the current Gov. So, if you really want to 'win' those people, and have them in your side you should want even more than ever EU to accept Turkey. There is a thread in our country and we will get rid of them soon, we have gone through way worse situations more than 80 years ago and managed to establish our Republic and declared secularism. No one, nothing will change this fact and no one will be able to take it back from us. They can hurt us but cannot kill. So, if you think that Turkey isn't worth to be accepted by EU and if you hold Turkey away from yourselves, then they will win. Because that is exactly what they try to do. Don't be stupid and don't be so easily fooled. For example, banning Southpark (which was aired entirely her in Turkey btw)in California doesn't make the whole Californians or Americans not worth.Again, it is a shame that this happens, but it is even more of a shame that some people here are so willing to think that Turkey isn't worth to be accepted by EU. Don't be fooled, think twice.
Richard, it is very frustrating to see your website of truth and enlightment got banned. But remember, nothing can stop the truth spreading all over the world. Truth will find its way, people will hear it, see it, read it no matter what goverments try to fight against it. Your books are standing with all their glory on the shelfs here and nothing can put them down, not in todays Turkey. It is easy to ban a website since it is a matter to push a lousy button, so to speak (since there are no laws against sites regarding atheism, this is just an act of, lie 'oh well, let's ban this site, when people get angrier we can unban it again'). And that is temporary, but your books are here to stay. I hope you don't give up your fight against this issue, I think your website will be available soon, if not any time soon, there are ways to access and that even may trigger a curiousity to whom normally wouldn't even know about you, and make them dwell in your website.. and go 'hmmm, interesting'.
Maybe some good comes out of bad, who knows :)
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