Freedom of Expression Activists Meet in Oslo

In Turkey, bianet and the Initiative against Thought Crimes are members of the International Freedom of Expresion eXchange (IFEX), which collects and disseminates information on violations of the freedom of expression and press freedom all around the world.

This week, 81 member organisations, both national and international, are meeting in Oslo for a general meeting (1 and 2 June) and a series of workshops and conferences (3-7 June).

Representatives from Turkey

bianet's freedom of expression editor Erol Önderoğlu, BİA education consultant and Izmir Economy University communication faculty lecturer Prof. Dr. Sevda Alankuş, Metis Publications representative Müge Sökmen, Initiative against Crimes of Thought spokesperson Şanar Yurdatapan, Belge Publications owner and president of the Turkey Publishers' Union's publication freedom committee Ragıp Zarakolu, as well as former PEN Turkey president and Birgün newspaper journalist Tarık Günersel are taking part in the meeting.

As part of the Global Freedom of Expression Forum, Turkish historian Taner Akçam from Clark University and Yael Danieli, former special consultant of Kofi Annan, will speak at a panel entitled "The Law and Politics of Denial" on 3 June.

Sökmen, Zarakolu and publishers from Iran, Thailand and Argentina will take part in a publishers' round table meeting.

This years Publication Freedom Prize goes to Sihem Bensedrine, Neziha Rejiba and Mohammed Talbi, who founded the "Monitoring House for the Freedom of Press, Publication and Creation" in Tunisia.

At a conference entitled "For God's Sake: The Line between Religion and Censorship", Tariq Ramadan, president of the Europe Muslim Network, and Irshad Manji, a US writer and lecturer, will speak.

A discussion on "Caricatures and Attacks" will be held between caricaturists Maxim (The Nation /Nawai Waqt in Pakistan), Martin Rowson (The Guardian, The Morning Star), Plantu (Le Monde) and Tony Namate (Cartoonist Rights Network representative).

International attendance

International organisations will also attend the meeting: Index on Censorship, Article 19, Committee for the Protection of Journalists, Reporters without Borders (RSF), International Federation of Journalists, Amnesty International, International PEN Writers' Union, Freedom House, and others. (EÖ/EÜ/AG)