Gökçe Gündüç

Gökçe Gündüç

AKP: “Closure Trial will Give Us 70 Percent of the Vote”

Members of the ruling AKP have reacted indignantly to the closure demand by Prosecutor Yalcinkaya, saying that the AKP would get even more support in the next elections.

Reactions to AKP Closure Request

Reactions to AKP Closure Request

President Gül said that he was “above politics” as president. The CHP and MHP have responded cautiously, while the DTP has condemned efforts to close both the AKP and the DTP.

Peace Initiative: Operations Not the Solution

The Turkish Peace Parliament Marmara Region Peace Initiative has released a statement calling for a solution to the Kurdish issue and for political parties and the media to be responsible.

IPS Communications Foundation and Press Now Organised Workshop in Antalya

25 reporters and journalists from local radio stations, TV channels and newspapers joined the workshop organised by IPS and Press Now in Antalya at the weekend.

Headscarves Not “In the Clear” Yet

Headscarves Not “In the Clear” Yet

The opposition CHP has appealed to the Constitutional Court to overrule the headscarf amendments, and university rectors have called for the resignation of Higher Education Council President Özcan.

28 February 2008

Headscarves Not “In the Clear” Yet

Headscarves Not “In the Clear” Yet

The opposition CHP has appealed to the Constitutional Court to overrule the headscarf amendments, and university rectors have called for the resignation of Higher Education Council President Özcan.

28 February 2008

Displaced Children Regain Confidence

Children forcibly displaced by the armed conflict in the southeast of Turkey have found a ray of hope with the Basak Foundation.

28 February 2008

Nationalist Uproar at Singer’s Anti-War Stance

Nationalist Uproar at Singer’s Anti-War Stance

Singer Bülent Ersoy’s courageous anti-war utterances on live TV have provoked a nationalist backlash and an investigation.

27 February 2008

President Gül Ratifies Headscarves at University

On 22 February, President Gül ratified the constitutional amendments of Articles 10 and 42, which allow women with headscarves to attend university.

25 February 2008

“My Mother Tongue" (2): Kurdish

Kurdish speaker Canan wants his children to grow up speaking Kurdish. Teachers are disillusioned with Turkish education system in Kurdish-majority Hakkari.

21 February 2008

“My Mother Tongue” (1) : Greek, Armenian and Ladino

The Greek population is dwindling, and the Armenian and Ladino languages have also suffered from assimilation policies over the last decades. New generations may not speak the languages of their grandparents anymore.

21 February 2008

UNESCO Declares 2008 “International Year of Languages”

UNESCO Declares 2008 “International Year of Languages”

More than half of the 6,700 languages of the world are under threat in the long term. UNESCO says, “Language is very important as a carrier of identity for groups and individuals.”

21 February 2008

Parliament Passes Headscarf Changes in First Round

Parliament Passes Headscarf Changes in First Round

Amendments to Articles 10 and 42 of the constitution were passed in the first round of debates and votes yesterday. The second round of votes is on Saturday.

7 February 2008

Over 2,000 Academics Support Headscarf at University

An Internet campaign of academics supporting the freedom to wear a headscarf at university has been signed by 2,252 university lecturers so far.

5 February 2008

Question of the Day: How to Tie the Headscarf?

The proposed constitutional amendment which would allow university students to wear headscarves has brought its own dilemmas.

31 January 2008

Heated Debate As Constitution Amended To Free Headscarves in The Universities

Heated Debate As Constitution Amended To Free Headscarves in The Universities

The ruling AKP's move to free headscarves in the universities, leads to strong reactions from the secularists. Some fear from the end of secular state, others argue limited freedom is hypocritical.

30 January 2008

UNICEF: Two in Ten People in Turkey Marry Underage

The new UNICEF report on the state of children in the world shows positive developments in child mortality and average life expectancy. However, too many children are still deprived of education or forced to marry underage.

24 January 2008

A BIA Approach to Rights Reporting

4 New Books Released

A BIA Approach to Rights Reporting

BIA launches a four volume series on rights reporting. Introduced to media professionals in the weekend the series is the outcome of training workshops for journalists and rights activists and focuses on a rights approach to reporting.

22 January 2008

Headscarf Problem Caused by State Monopoly on Religion

Prof. Dr. Sancar pointed out that the religious authorities in Turkey were civil servants employed by the state.

17 January 2008

"Flag of Blood" Inspired by Biology Class

The biology curriculum includes an experiment where pupils determine their blood group. Health activist Sütlas has criticised the dangers of such projects.

17 January 2008

"Büyükanit Spreads Militarism Among Children"

Chief of Staff under criticism

"Büyükanit Spreads Militarism Among Children"

Turkey's military chief General Yasar Büyükanit faces criticism by psychologists and peace activists for publicising of a group of children who painted an image of a Turkish flag from their own blood.

13 January 2008

"Day of Working Journalists Is a Joke"

Dismissed journalists spoke out about working conditions in the press on the occasion of "Day of Working Journalists".

10 January 2008

"The Government Could Prevent Child Marriage"

Lawyer Asma claims that the judiciary does not protect exploited children, but their families: "The family who forced their child to marry should have been tried under Article 233; the punishment was insufficient."

10 January 2008

Husbands May Be Fired in Case of Domestic Violence

Municipality and union agree:

Husbands May Be Fired in Case of Domestic Violence

Gülcihan Simsek, the female district mayor from southeast Van province signs a collective agreement with the workers union: Male workers can be fired should they resort to domestic violence.

10 January 2008

Parliamentary Investigation Finds No Further Evidence in Dink Murder Case

Agirbas of the Parliamentarian Human Rights Investigating Commission says that nothing new has come out of the commission's investigations so far.

Peace Parliament: Solve Kurdish Question in 2008

The Peace Parliament called on the government to allow different identities to develop: “The Kurdish question should be solved within Turkey, not across the borders.”

Foundation Investigates Human Rights in School Books

The History Foundation is aiming to scan the books prepared for the new curriculum in a repetition of its 2002-2004 "Human Rights in School Books" project.

28 December 2007

Conscientious Objectors in Northern Cyprus

Turks in Northern Cyprus have also formed a Conscientious Objectors' Initiative, opposing militarism and legislation which punishes "alienating the public from military service".

28 December 2007

Seasonal Labour Affects Children’s Schooling

A study by the Egitim-Sen trade union has found that one out of five children starts school late in areas where seasonal labour is common.

19 December 2007

Family Says "Cover", School Says "Take off the Headscarf"

As the government, the opposition and families continue to struggle for power over children's bodies, education expert Aydoganoglu warns that the children's self-confidence is destroyed.

19 December 2007

10th TÜRSAK Cinema Festival

From 18 to 20 December, TÜRSAK shows international films in Istanbul. The theme this year is "Overcoming Borders".

18 December 2007

"Constitution Must Guarantee Equality and Social Rights"

"Constitution Must Guarantee Equality and Social Rights"

The "Constitutional Platform Initiative" which met in workshops at the weekend has published a statement.

14 December 2007

1
2
3