Hackers belonging to the nebulous Internet collective Anonymous
launched #OpTurkey this week in a show of solidarity with fierce
anti-government protests that have sent shock waves throughout Turkey.
The cyberattack, which targeted the Turkish government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, brought down websites belonging to President Abdullah Gul, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Istanbul Directorate of Security and the Istanbul Governor’s Office on Sunday.
The cyberattack, which targeted the Turkish government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, brought down websites belonging to President Abdullah Gul, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Istanbul Directorate of Security and the Istanbul Governor’s Office on Sunday.
According to the Russian website RT,
the Anonymous attack came after a series of brutal clashes between
police and protesters that arose on Friday after Turkish police
conducted a crackdown on a peaceful environmental demonstration
in Istanbul’s Taksim Square. The ensuing conflict, during which police
fired tear gas at protestors, some of whom fought back by throwing
rocks, seemed to take on broader political significance
.
We are coming Turkey. Be strong, We will not let you down. Stay in the streets, We will take your government offline. #OpTurkey
— Anonymous(@AnonOpsMob) June 2, 2013
“It’s the first time in Turkey’s democratic history that an
unplanned, peaceful protest movement succeeded in changing the
government’s approach and policy,” Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Turkish
research group the Center for Economic and Foreign Policy Studies, told
the New York Times.
“It gave for the first time a strong sense of empowerment to ordinary
citizens to demonstrate and further their belief that if they act like
they did the last few days they can influence events in Turkey.”
The government’s reaction drew the ire of Anonymous, who slammed the
Turkish government for acting like “petty dictators.” In a message
posted on YouTube on Sunday, Anonymous announced the launch of Operation
Turkey, saying, “We have watched for days with horror as our brothers
and sisters in Turkey who are peacefully rising up against their
tyrannical government [have been] brutalized, beaten, run over by riot
vehicles, shot with water cannons and gassed in the streets."
“Turkey is supposed to be a so-called modern democracy, but the
Turkish government behaves like the petty dictators in China or Iran,”
the missive’s computer generated voice continued. “Anonymous is outraged
by this behavior and we will unite across the globe and bring the
Turkish government to its knees."
The collective stated that it planned to “attack every Internet and
communications asset of the Turkish government.” In tweets, the group
encouraged protesters to “be strong,” promising to lend their support.