Turkish deputy apologizes to pastor for ‘XXX problem’ on church website

DİYARBAKIR – Doğan News Agency

CHP's Aykan Erdemir (L) visited church’s pastor Ahmet Güvener in his parish in Diyarbakır, June 17. DHA Photo

A Turkish lawmaker who discovered that Parliament’s Internet filter system denied access to the website of a Protestant church in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır due to “pornographic content” has visited the church to apologize for the wrongdoing.

Aykan Erdemir, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy from Bursa, presented a box of chocolates to the church’s pastor Ahmet Güvener, saying he also wished that he could present a law against hate crimes at Parliament.

“I made a promise to Ahmet. Once we have approval for a hate crimes code at the Parliament, I will bring the text in person to the Diyarbakır church,” Erdemir said during the June 15 visit.

He added that Parliament’s filter had not only affected protestants, but also Alevis and the LGBTI community.

After presenting a written question to Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek, Erdemir met with him on June 9. In the meeting, in which Parliament’s IT experts were also present, Çiçek expressed support for the unblocking of all restrictions for members of Parliament, the CHP deputy said.

“The struggle that I have been in for the past 10 days has been concluded. Members of Parliament will continue to use Parliament’s firewall, but they will be able to access any website by using their names and passwords,” Erdemir said.