Is Turkey Sliding Into Dictatorship, As Gov. Blocks Wikipedia Citing Smear Campaign?

Turkey may have just stepped up its efforts to quash online free speech, as the country blocked access to Wikipedia over linking the nation to terror activity, the government said Saturday, according to state-run Anadolu Agency, ccn.com reports. 

Articles and comments on the popular online encyclopedia showed Turkey "in coordination and aligned" with terrorist groups, the Turkish Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs, and Communications said.

"It has become part of an information source which is running a smear campaign against Turkey in the international arena," the ministry said. Turkey warned Wikipedia to remove such content, but the nonprofit encyclopedia refused, the government said.

Turkey warned Wikipedia to remove such content, but the nonprofit encyclopedia refused, once Wikipedia meets Turkey's demands, the access ban will be lifted, the statement said.