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Youtube Turkish fans might have some hope of seeing again, and legally, the many videos admired throughout the world. The turkish Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Binalar Yildirim, should meet with YouTube executives to discuss the possible reopening of the website.

Since April 2008 the website was censored by the judiciary to combat the spread of video and phrases that insulted the Turkish identity. The video offended Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey, and authorities did not appreciated it, at all.
Especially one video showed some Greeks who insulted Turkey and accused of homosexuality the founder of the nation.
A serious breach of law for this country: according to art.301 of turkish penal code, all criminal acts that are prejudicial to the image of the Turkish nation (starting with the founder Mustafa Kemal, known as Ataturk) are punishable.
Because of article 301, Orhan Pamuk (2006 Nobel Prize) risked being sentenced to three years' imprisonment for having declared to a Swiss newspaper (while he was talking about the entry of Turkey in Europe) that thirty thousand Kurds and millions of Armenians have been killed in his country. His statements had offended the country and so he had to be punished.

Already in the past YouTube had posted videos not welcome from the authorities, but their simple removal was enough to convince reopening the connection to the site. An important role had played the rebellion of some Turkish bloggers, thanks to a proper class action were able to reopen the site, even if for a few days. The new insertion of offensive images to Ataturk had then darken again that address.
As often happens in these countries where live togheter (with many difficulties) a high number of Westernized young people and a pro-governmental establishment (which wants to maintain balances the values handed down for years), everybody had found how circumvent the law.Thanks to some special programs, able to encrypt the IP address, they managed to access YuoTube services.
An official said as the same government offices have this type of software to circumvent the blackout made by Turk Telekom, and it is not so difficult to find other alternatives. 

Now, following the meeting between Bildrimi and YouTube executives there could be open up new hopes for fans of this website who wants to comply with the law.
Although some argued that the complaint has not been applied for the insults to Ataturk, but for simple tax purposes. The turkish government would have the payment of fees by the Californian company that, at this time, has 21 companies with tax related entities around the world but not in Turkey.

Marianna Lepore