Newspaper Editor Threatened With 3,5 Years

Local Prosecutor demands 3.5 years for daily Birgun newspaper Sunday supplement editor Gokhan Gencay for discouraging the public from military service. Charge relates to an interviwev published in the paper with a conscientious objector.

Erol Önderoğlu

An Istanbul prosecutor has demanded up to 3.5 years imprisonment for Birgun [One Day] newspaper Sunday supplement editor Gokhan Gencay for discouraging the public from military service by conducting and publishing an interview with conscientious objector Erkan Bolot.

In the hearing of Gencay and Birguns Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Cesmecioglu at the Beyoglu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on July 18, prosecutor Mehmet Akilli demanded for Gencay to be punished according to article 318 of the new Penal Code and asked for the acquittal of Cesmecioglu as the identity of the person responsible for the offence was known.

Article 318 rules six months to two years imprisonment for those who encourage or suggest in a way that will discourage the people from military service and increases the sentence by half if the offence is committed through the press.

Turkey has 60 self-proclaimed conscientious objectors who are challenging compulsory military service and a series of cases have recently been launched against journalists and newspapers interviewing them.

Akilli said in his opinion this week that the 30 October 2005 Sunday Supplement of the newspaper carried an interview titled "Let us dry the human resource of wars which committed the defense due to remarks it contained.

The case has been adjourned to October 18 where attorney Deniz Ceylan has said they will submit Gencay's defense. (EO/KO/II/YE)

Erol Önderoğlu

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İstanbul Üniversitesi Fransız Filolojisi Bölümü'nden mezun. 1996'da muhabiri olduğu uluslararası Sınır Tanımayan Gazeteciler (RSF) örgütünün Türkiye temsilcisi olarak çalışıyor. 1999'dan beri İPS İletişim Vakfı'nın projesi olan bianet sitesinde, Hukuki Destek Masası koordinatörü, ifade özgürlüğü editörü ve yayın yönetmeni olarak çalıştı. 4.800'den fazla imzalı haber ve makalesi bulunuyor. Bizim Gazete ve Güncel Hukuk dergisi için haber ve makaleler yazdı. Halen bianet'te Medya Gözlem Raporları'nı hazırlıyor.