General Staff Takes Journalist Dilipak To The Court

Abdurrahman Dilipak, newspaper columnist for “Anadolu’da Vakit” has been sued for his article “Cübbe Sarık”, published on February 13, 2008. He is accused of “denigrating the armed forces through media.”

The case was filed following a complaint made by the General Staff to the Ministry of Interior on February 18, which asked that the journalist be punished according to article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

“A white turban wrapped over a green fez instead of their officer’s hat”

It is claimed in the complaint that the reality, the public good and the intellectual connection criteria between the subject and its expression are exceeded and the Turkish Armed Forces is targeted directly by said article.

On September 17, Dilipak will face the judge at the Bakırköy Court of First Instance. In the meantime, the court is waiting for Interior Minister’s permission to be able to try the case.

Zarakolu was convicted; the other files are at the ministry

The latest conviction for violating article 301 was Ragıp Zarakolu, owner of Belge Publishing. The other 301 cases have been sent to the Ministry of Interior in accordance with the latest revision in article 301, which went into effect on May 7 under the title of “denigrating the Turkish Nation, the State of the Turkish Republic and its institutions and organs.”

According to Bianet’s Media Monitoring Report, published on May 1, there were 42 people on trial in the period January-February-March for the violation of article 301 and 12 of these cases were new. In 2007, the number of those on trial for 301 was 55. (EÖ/EZÖ/TB)