BIA2 Media Monitoring: Violations Persist
The 10-page report provides a detailed account of all human rights violations under the topics: "attacks and threats," "detentions and arrests," "trials and attempts," "RTUK practices," "regulations and legal procedures," and "censorship and monopolization."
Attacks and threats
Police attacked Ugras Vatandas, a reporter for the "Gunluk Evrensel" (Daily Universal) newspaper, who was covering a NATO protest on June 28. As one police officer asked to see Vatandas' press card, others shouted: "Hit him, he is an Evrensel reporter." Vatandas had bruises on his waist and was badly affected by the gas cannons fired by the police.
Erdal Celik, the owner of the weekly "Beyaz Sayfa" (White Page) newspaper published in Gaziantep, was attacked by two men in his office on June 26. He was stabbed on his arms and back. An employee, Sedat Guler, was also injured on his arm. The assailants took Celik's mobile phone and hurled a Molotov cocktail at the building before running away. Celik told the police he did not know the assailants. Police is still investigating the incident.
On June 8, officials from the Interior Ministry heard the testimonies of nine journalists who were beaten up in Diyarbakir during March 28 local elections. "Show TV" and "Sky Turk" representative Nevzat Bingol, in his testimony, said that he saw police officers beat cameraman Hakim Cetiner up.
Detentions and Arrests
Ugur Balik, board head of Dicle News Agency (DIHA) and Baris Gullu, owner of the monthly "Ozgur Halk" (Free People) magazine, were detained in the DIHA Istanbul office. They were arrested on June 12, for "having connections with KONGRA-GEL." A complaint was filed to the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) and the journalists were released from the Bayrampasa Prison on June 18.
The police, who raided the DIHA Istanbul office with a permit from the Istanbul DGM prosecutors, detained 25 employees of the "Ulkede Ozgur Gundem" (Free Agenda in the Country) and "Ozgur Halk" (Free People) magazines to "investigate their connections to KONGRA-GEL." Eighteen of the detainees were released the following day, and five of them were released after three days.
Mahir Zengin, the owner and editor-in-chief of the "Devrimci Demokrasi" (Revolutionary Democracy) magazine, was released from Kartal prison when his family paid a fine of 10 billion 600 million Turkish lira (USD 7,300). The journalist had been arrested a week ago when he did not pay the fine the court handed him in two separate trials.
Muharrem Cengiz, the owner of the "Kultur Sanat Yasaminda Tavir" (Manner in the Culture and Arts World) magazine and the Idil Culture Center, has been under arrest for the last for months because of a testimony against him. On June 9, the Istanbul DGM joined his court file with another file about the bomb attack on a DGM personnel vehicle in the Bakirkoy district of Istanbul.
Ahead of the NATO Summit, police from the Harbiye police station detained eight employees of the Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) on May 26, with the permission of the TRT management. Four of them were released on the same day, while Ismail Hakki Uzun, Ilhan Sencan and two members of the Meida and Communication Workers' Union (Haber-Sen) Mehmet Demir and Ibrahim Uzun were kept under detention until the following day.
Yeter Cemile Gundogdu, an announcer at the "Radyo Dunya" (Radio World), was detained on May 25 for mentioning during her program that imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan said, "A war may break out and even I cannot prevent it." Gundogdu, accused for terrorist propaganda, was released after being questioned by DGM prosecutors.
A former writer for the "Milli Gazete" (National Newspaper), Hakan Albayrak, was sent to Ankara Kalecik prison on May 20, after an appeals court upheld that he had "committed a crime against Ataturk. Albayrak will remain in prison for five months. The appeals court demanded that the 15 months of prison sentence handed to Mehmet Terzi, who served as chief editor at the time, is commuted to a fine. In his article called "A Funeral Prayer," Albayrak has written: "Mustafa Kemal Pasha was buried without funeral prayers. And neither the state, nor the people were disturbed by this." Ulviye Kilic, chief editor of the "Yesil Gole" (Green Gole) newspaper in Ardahan, was detained as she was distributing newspapers during the April 23 celebrations, for "provoking the people." She was interrogated and released in two hours.
On April 21, police in Nigde prevented journalists from marching to the martyrdom cemetery to express support for Rauf Denktas, the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). In a statement in front of the Journalists' Association, the crowd chanted slogans and called on the governor to resign. Necmi Piskin, owner of "Bor FM" and a member of the association were briefly detained.
Trials and Attempts
"Vakit" (Time) newspaper was handed a fine of 900 billion Turkish lira (USD 621,000) in a trial brought against it by army generals. Vakit appealed the case. RTUK member Mehmet Dogan, who was handed a fine for writing the article with the title "The country where those who do not have the capacity to become corporals have become generals," appealed the case on June 28.
On June 24, a local court began hearing the case brought by Mahmut Deniz, local official from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), against Ahmet Aksoy, editor in chief of the "Yeni Olusum," (New Formation) newspaper. Deniz is accusing Aksoy with "insult."
Ahmet Kaplan, the son of AKP's lawmaker Mahmut Kapan from the province of Sanliurfa, had also sued Aksoy. Aksoy, in an article, had written that the two officials "roughed up" Fevzi Celik Kaya, the headmaster of a local school, because of an"unearned income issue during a state tender." The journalist faces up to six years in prison.
A local court, on June 3, continued to try Ersen Korkmaz, chief editor of the "Demokrat Iskenderun" (Democratic Iskenderun) newspaper and Necmettin Salaz, an official from the Turkish Communist Party (TKP). Both Korkmaz and Salaz are being charged with "insulting the military and security forces of the state." Korkmaz, who faces up to three years in prison, is charged because of an article titled, "The leader of Kurds is handed to Fascists." Salaz is charged for a speech he delivered at a panel with the same title.
Nedim Sener, the economy reporter of the daily "Milliyet" stood trial on June 3 at an Istanbul court for writing a book titled, "The Uzan family- The Collapse of an Empire of Fear." The book was published at the beginning of March. The court rejected demands to confiscate the book. A Tunceli court, on June 22, continued to try Huseyin Aygun, head of the Tunceli Bar and the owner of the "Tunceli'de Munzur Haber" (Munzur news in Tunceli) newspaper, for "criticizing the implementations of the reforms in the country and in Tunceli and for making the crowd chant slogans" during the Newroz day celebrations.
Lawyer Aygun, along with 14 others, is charged with "insulting the Republic" and "praising an act listed as a crime." He faces up to five years in prison. Police searched the offices of TRT Istanbul Radio ahead of June's NATO Summit in Istanbul. It had permission from the radio's management to do so.
A court on May 27, dismissed a trial about an article titled, "Corruption in State Tenders," published in the "Mus Haber" (Mus News) newspaper. The newspaper's chief coordinator Faruk Aktas and chief editor Berna Aktas had been handed fines because of the same article in a previous hearing.
On June 15, Sami Budak, the owner of the "Guney" (South) newspaper, was handed a fine of 1 billion 156 million Turkish lira (USD 797) for "insulting" a former DYP lawmaker, Takiddin Yarayan, "through a publication." Chief editor Mehmet Zakir Akdag was acquitted.
The defendants in the trial against the weekly "Sehrivan" newspaper were acquitted on June 3. A court in Van ruled that the process of sending a denial by the "Association of Victims of the Armenian Genocide During the First World War," in response to the article, "Where did the Association Against Armenians Come From," was not properly conducted. The newspaper could have been handed a fine of 58 billion Turkish lira (USD 40,000). The newspaper's employees had begun a hunger strike as a response to the trial.
During the June 9 hearing of the trial against journalist Fikret Baskaya for a book called, "Articles Against the Current," which compiles articles published in the "Ozgur Gundem" (Free Agenda) newspaper, the prosecutor asked the court to sentence to prison journalist Baskaya and Ismet Erdogan from the publishing house "Maki Basin Yayin," which published the book. The prosecutor said editor Ozden Bayram, should be acquitted. The latest edition of "Articles Against the Current," was published in January 2003.
Journalist Baskaya and publicist Erdogan face up to three years in prison under article 159 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).
On June 2, Ibrahim Tig, owner and chief editor of the "Bolge Haber," (Regional News) newspaper published in the Devrek district of Zonguldak province, applied to the chief prosecutor's office and complained about local governor Suleyman Tapsiz. Tig said that the local official, in his article titled, "Standard...Style...Dialogue," published in the "Devrek Postasi"(Devrek Post) newspaper, called him "inexperienced," and likened him to a "poodle dog."
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sued the "Gunluk Evrensel" (Daily Evrensel) newspaper and its chief editor, Ismail Muzaffer Ozkurt, because of a caricature named "AKP's deep chief." Erdogan demanded 10 billion Turkish lira (USD 6,900) in damages. An Ankara court began hearing the trial on June 2. The next hearing will be held on July 7.
On May 26, the Istanbul DGM continued to try Ragip Zarakolu, a writer for the "Yeniden Ozgur Gundem" newspaper for his article called, "None of Your Business." Zarakolu is being charged with "opposing law no: 312 of the Turkish Penal Code." The newspaper's owner, Ali Celik Kasimogullari, and chief editor Mehmet Colak are also being charged in the same trial.
The Supreme Court of Appeals, on May 25, upheld the 18 months of prison sentence the Istanbul DGM handed to writer Selahattin Aydar of the "Milli Gazete" (National Newspaper).
The Istanbul DGM had ruled that the writer, in his article called, "Let's Protect Our Children," published in the newspaper on September 2001, "incited hatred and enmity based on religious differences." "The crime defined in the article is a crime of danger and there is no requirement to call for violence for the elements of the crime to be established," said the court in its ruling. Judges Zeki Aslan and Nuri Yilmaz voted to overturn the decision. They advocated, "For the elements of crime to be established, the article or action has to contain imminent and concrete danger." In mid-June, the prosecutors of the Supreme Court of Appeals asked that the case be reviewed.
Dogan Ozguden, head of the "Turkiye'de ve Avrupa'da Yazin" (Literature in Turkey and Europe" magazine, journalist-writer Emin Karaca, and chief editor Mehmet Emin Sert are being charged with "insulting the state's military forces." An Istanbul court had demanded a couple of times that Ozguden, who lives in Belgium, is detained at the border so that he could testify in court. There was no progress in the trial because of judge changes. The next hearing will be held on September 22.
On May 20, an Ankara court decided that Nuri Aykon, the owner of "Vakit" newspaper, its chief editor Harun Aksoy and writer Mehmet Dogan, would pay 624 billion Turkish lira (USD 40,500) in damages to 312 generals. With the interest, the fine becomes 900 billion Turkish lira (USD 621,000). Judge Bulent Cinar ruled that writer Asim Yenihaber of the article titled, "The country where those who do not have the capacity to become corporals have become generals," is actually Mehmet Dogan.
Faruk Aktas, the owner of the "Mus Haber" newspaper and chief editor Berna Aktas, who were being charged for "insulting a government or state official," were acquitted on May 13. The two-stood trial for an article titled, "Education with no Framework," published on November 11, 2003. The article, which was about the education problems in Mus, included findings of the Education and Science Workers Union (Egitim-Sen) and criticized the implementations of favor and scholarships.
In early May, the Halfeti prosecutor's office rejected a trial against chief editor Ahmet Aksoy of the "Yeni Olusum" newspaper, published in Nizip. Halfeti's local governor Sitki Ocal had attempted to sue Aksoy for his article titled, "May a local governor bully around? Yes he may, " accusing him of "insulting through media publications."
A local court continued on May 11, to try journalist Sinan Kara for filming Datca's local governor while he was swimming during work hours and "disturbing a person and filming ugly and shameful parts of his/her body." Kara faces up to 15 days in prison and a fine. The court accepted to include in the case file the decision to abate an action against Yalcin Bayer of the daily Hurriyet. Bayer had published the same story.
Mehmet Yurek, the editor in chief of the Mersin "Degisim" (Change) newspaper is standing trial for saying that former President Kenan Evren has to be "held back" in one of his articles. In his article titled, "Desentralizasyon, Yonetisim, Safsiolarite and 10 suggestions to the new mayors of Marmaris," published in April 16, and which included suggestions to the new mayors, Yurek had written, "Hold Kenan Evren and Marmaris Sports Back."
Acting on a tip off, police searched journalist Hadi Ozisik's house on the morning of May 2. The seven police officers dressed in civilian clothes, said they were searching for "7000 Telsim prepaid cards belonging to the Uzan family." Police could not find anything during the search conducted with a court order. In his web site, Ozisik said he would "pursue the incident to the end."
On April 27, a court handling the trial against Kemal Mutlu and Ali Ekber Coskun, the directors of the monthly "Dersim" magazine, decided to wait for the outcome of the application to the Constitutional Court by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on May 21, 2002.
Mutlu and Coskun are being charged with "violating a declaration given to the property owner" and thus violating press laws by publishing Kurdish articles in the June 2002 issue of the magazine.
An Istanbul court on April 27, rejected a demand to confiscate a book called, "The Uzan Family, the Collapse of an Emprie of Fear," written by the economy reporter of the daily Milliyet, Nedim Sener.
Guler Yildiz, the former chief editor of the Mersin "Cinar" (Plane tree) newspaper, who was being charged for "insulting the military forces of the state," by writing about a book called, "Mehmed'in Kitabi" by Nadire Mater, was acquitted on April 27. The Supreme Court of Appeals overturned the decisions throughout trial period, once procedural, and once after taking the reforms into account.
On April 26, a Batman court acquitted Mahfuz Uyanik, owner of the "Batman Doğuş" (Batman Birth) newspaper. Uyanik was sued for not properly publishing a correction.
"ART," a local television channel in the province of Diyarbakir, went off the air on April 24, as punishment for broadcasting the Kurdish video clips Welate Min (My Country) and Halitbege Cbiri. The television will stay off the air for 30 days. Muhsin Kocyigit, a Republican People's Party (CHP) lawmaker from Diyarbakir, demanded an investigation into the issue. In response to his demand, Zakir Avsar, the deputy head of the Radio and Television Higher Board (RTUK) said the channel was ordered off the air, "not for broadcasting Kurdish songs," but "because the songs insulted Turks." RTUK had handed a punishment to the same channel for the Kurdish songs it broadcasted on August 16, 2003. The television watchdog said the channel's broadcasts "violated the existence and freedom of the state of Turkish Republic, the inseparable unity of the state with its country and people and Ataturk's principles and revolutions."
A Turkish court, on April 21, handed chief editor Mustafa Dokuler of the weekly "Yeni Asya International" (New Asia International) magazine, a fine of 1 billion 840 million Turkish lira (USD 1,269) for an article titled, "Earthquakes Equal Disasters." The editor was accused of "inciting hatred and enmity based on religion and sect in a way that they could become dangerous toward each other." The punishment was postponed. The magazine, which is distributed outside of Turkey, was also closed for three days.
An appeals court on April 21, upheld the 15-months prison sentence handed to Hakan Albayrak, the former owner of the "Milli Gazete," in line with law no: 5816 on "Crimes Against Ataturk." Due to a law accepted in 1951, Albayrak will remain in prison for five months.
Hasan Ozgun, former Diyarbakir correspondent for the pro-Kurdish daily Ozgur Gundem in Diyarbakir, who has been imprisoned for "belonging to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)," stood trial for petitioning for a retrial. Ozgun, who was facing 12 years in prison, was acquitted on April 20.
On April 16, an Ankara court halted a decision by RTUK to put Malatya's Gunes TV (Sun TV) off the air for 30 days for expressing sorrow over the death of suicide bomber Songul Akkurt. RTUK's decision had gone in effect on March 30, so the television began broadcasts 11 days before its punishment ended.
On April 15, Faruk Aktas, head of the Mus Haber newspaper was sentenced to a year and nine months in prison for "insulting through publications." Chief editor Berna Aktas was handed a fine of 7 billion 340 million Turkish lira (USD 5,062). In trials brought against them by Deputy Governor Ibrahim Kucuk, the court ordered the collection of 21 billion Turkish lira (USD 14,483) from the journalists. The journalists have many cases brought against them. Three of those cases are at the Supreme Court of Appeals.
Turkey's parliament speaker Bulent Arınç, during an April 14 press conference, got angry at a journalist for asking a question and gave an obscene answer. He later acknowledged he had gone too far.
On April 10, the Communications School of Kocaeli University (KU) banned the distribution of the Amigra magazine within the school. The magazine was prepared by the students of universities in the Marmara region. Associate Professor Hasret Comak defended the school's decision and said: "The decision o ban the magazine is only effective within the campus." The magazine included articles in Kurdish and Armenian.
Ozgur Radio's chief coordinator Fusun Erdogan was handed a fine of 4 billion Turkish lira (USD 2,759) on April 6, for continuing the radio's broadcasts over the internet after RTUK ordered the radio off the air. A Kadikoy court said broadcasting over the Internet was effectively the same as broadcasting over radio.
On April 2, a court ordered Faruk Aktas, the owner of the "Mus Haber" newspaper and chief editor Berna Aktas to pay their debts, arising from cases brought against them for stories on the Governorship's activities. Aktas has to pay a total of 21 billion 226 million Turkish lira (USD 14,639) as a result of three cases. He is expected to be ordered to pay an additional debt of up to 50 billion Turkish lira (USD 34,483).
Regulations and Legal Procedures
On June 29, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer signed law no: 5190, which annulled State Security Courts. Sezer approved the Press Law no: 5187 on June 25. The Press Law no: 5680, which is dated 1950, was approved on June 9. The manager and the person he works for, will be handed a fine of 10 billion Turkish lira (USD 6,897) to 150 billion Turkish lira (USD 103,450) if they do not comply with the judge's decision to publish corrections and responses. The fine for regional broadcasts will be a minimum of 20 billion Turkish lira (USD 13,793) and 50 billion Turkish lira (USD 34,483) for extensive broadcasts. Any person, who publishes information on the prosecutor, judge or contents of the court procedures and investigation, will pay a fine of 2 billion Turkish lira (USD 1,379) to 50 billion Turkish lira. This fine will be a minimum of 10 billion Turkish lira in regional broadcasts, and 20 billion Turkish lira in extensive broadcasts. Any opinion or comment on the case, judge or court procedures may not be published before the court ruling.
Broadcasts in languages and dialects other than Turkish began in Turkey on June 7 with Bosnian programs on Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) Radio 1 and TRT 3 television channel. On TRT Radio 1 and TRT 3, there are Arabic broadcasts on Tuesdays, broadcasts in Kirmanchi dialect of Kurdish on Wednesdays, Circassian broadcasts on Thursdays and broadcasts in the Zaza dialect of Kurdish on Fridays.
The TRT managing board, which rejected broadcasting in mother tongues twice, accepted these broadcasts on May 26 during a press conference.
At the end of May, the managing board of the Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, State Minister Besir Atalay, Labour and Social Security Minister Murat Basesgioglu, Health Minister Recep Akdag and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek to talk about "the problems of journalists and the obstacles to press freedom."
An application by the Diyarbakir Bar to have the "Regulation on Languages and Dialects other than Turkish" cancelled, was rejected by the Council of State.
Reactions against Censorship and Monopolization
Mehmet Demir, an Istanbul reporter for the Turkish Radio and Television (TRT), and a representative of the Media and Communication Workers' Union (Haber-Sen), was sent to the eastern province of Erzurum with an urgent decision ahead of the NATO Summit, for a temporary mission. He arrived in Erzurum on June 21. "This, of course, is a relegation," said Oral Calislar, a member of board of directors and committee of representatives of the Turkish Journalists' Society (TGC). "We need to look at this incident as an attempt to prevent organizations."
The managing board of the Turkish Journalists' Union (TGS) gathered in Izmir on June 15. TGS decided to shortly begin preparations to rewrite its main regulations and to form a new model of collective labor contracts in the media sector. TGS said that the new press law had shortcomings but was still a sincere and positive step toward expanding press freedoms. It added that total press freedom cannot be established solely by improving relations between the state and media.
TGC head Orhan Erinc said the parts on "Right to Respond and Correction," and "Influencing Jurisdiction," of the new Press Law carried a content that would abolish the concept of legal news.
On June 3, the Contemporary Journalists' Association (CGD) protested the imprisonment of Makbule Turk, the former chief editor of the Alinteri (Labor) newspaper and CGD Istanbul head. Turk was sentenced to 10 months in prison for "disseminating propaganda in favor of terrorist organization." Turk had 17 cases brought against her in three months and paid a total of 10 billion Turkish lira in fines.
According to the 2004 Spring Semester Report by the Freedom of Publication Committee of the Turkish Publicists' Union, made public on June 2, a total of 271 cases were brought against Yeniden Ozgur Gundem newspaper. The law on identifying labels was used as a means of pressure.
With the efforts of "Initiative against Crimes of Thought," a new book, compiled by studying laws for over a year, and which puts together regulations that limit the freedom of thought, has been published.
A group comprised of Husnu Ondul, head of the Human Rights Association (IHD), Yilmaz Ensaroglu, head of the pro-Islamist Association for Human Rights and Solidarity for the Oppressed (MAZLUMDER), Yavuz Onen, head of the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV), and Sanar Yurdatapan, the spokesman for the "Initiative Against Crimes of Thought," sent a copy of the 2,148-page book to politicians and state officials on May 25. The study, overseen by Prof. Semih Gemalmaz, was aimed at compiling every rule in the decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers, and regulations and circulars issued by ministries, their sub-offices or other public institutions, that eliminate, prevent or limit the freedom of "thought, conscience and expression."
On May 25, the Adana DGM wrote a letter to the Industry and Commerce Ministry and demanded the closure of the company that owns "Radyo Dunya" (Radio World). Radyo Dunya has been sued for broadcasting a message from the imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Lawyer Dilek Bal said the court also asked RTUK to take action against the station, saying it violated broadcasting principles.
On May 12, Haber-Sen called on TRT head Senol Demiroz to resign. It also called on the board members to take action. Basin-Sen head Kemal Keles claimed there was censorship within TRT and added that there has been an illegality in the company for the last four months. "TRT censored images with an order," said Keles. "Press spokesman of the Prime Ministry acknowledge censorship."
Gun TV (Day TV) in Diyarbakir broadcasted a documentary in the Kurmanchi dialect of Kurdish for the first time. The documentary named, "Cek Cek," (handcart) was broadcasted on May 9 at 21:00 p.m. and had Turkish subtitles throughout. The documentary, made as part of Diyarbakir 3rd Culture and Art Festival, is about the life of a man. The television's head Cemal Dogan said the documentary was broadcasted in line with the Regulation on Broadcasts in Languages and Dialects other than Turkish, which went into effect on January 25.
On May 4, the officials of the "Sanat ve Hayat" (Art and Life) magazine applied to the Istanbul court and said that the Istanbul Governor's Office, Police Headquarters and Interior Ministry intervened in their e-mail correspondence.
The Journalists Without Borders, on the Media Freedom Day on May 3, said 14 journalists in Turkey had been detained, 18 had been attacked, eight spent all or part of the year in prison and four were released in the year 2003.
"Press freedom, in other words, freedom of expression, is one of the main rights that is lacking throughout the world," said Muge Gursoy Sokmen, head of the Turkish PEN Comittee of Imprisoned Journalists. "Without press freedom, it is very hard to establish other freedoms."
Kjell Olaf Jensen, Norvegian PEN head, Sara Whyatt, director of the PEN Committee of Imprisoned Journalists, Professor Alfred Zayas, Muge Sokmen, Metin Celal and Fikret Ilkiz from Turkey PEN, Ragip Zarakolu from Publishers' Union, journalist Ragip Duran, Hrant Dink from the Armenian "Agos" newspaper, journalist Umit Ozturk from the journalists' unit of the Amnesty Group and composer Sanar Yurdatapan participated in the round-table meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in April.
RTUK Penalties with company names and regulation articles
1- For violations of the provision (z) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides " Programmes, which could impair the physical, mental, and moral development of young people and children shall not be broadcast within the time intervals that they may be viewing."
Warnings
* TGRT, "Hayatin Renkleri" (Colors of the Night) and "Alisan'li Gece" (Night with Alisan) programs; March 14, February 7 (April 13, 2004)
* Channel 6, the movies "Invincibles" and "Lesson;" January 24, February 27 (April 20-21, 2004)
* Olay TV (Bursa), the movie "Guardian;" February 28, 2004 (April 20-21, 2004)
* TGRT, "Ekstra Magazin" and "Pazar Yildizlari" (Sunday Stars) programs, January 11; Feburary 1, 8, January 4, 11, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
* Show TV, "Popstar" competition program, April 5,19,26, 2004 (May 4-5,12, 2004)
* NTV, "Futbol Pazarı" (Football Sunday) and commercials, April 11-12, 2004 (May 4-5,12, 2004)
* Kanal D, commercials, March 27, 2004 (May 4-5,12, 2004)
* CNBC-e, commercials, March 25, 2004 (May 4-5,12, 2004)
* Star TV, children's cartoon named, "Lastik Cocuk," (Elastic Kid) April 18-24, 2004 (May 25, 2004)
Programs that were ordered off the air
ATV, "Esra Ceyhan'la A'dan Z'ye" (A to Z with Esra Ceyhan) program,January 19-20, 2004 (during the meeting on April 13, 2004)
Channel D, "Sabah Sabah Seda Sayan" (Seda Sayan in the morning) program, January 12 and February 18, 2004 (May 25, 2004)
Asking for a defense
TGRT, women's program named "Serap Ezgu ile Kadının Sesi," (Women's Voice with Serap Ezgu) February 19-20 and March 3, 2004 (April 13, 2004)
Channel D, "Sabah Sabah Seda Sayan" program; March 2, 10, 17, 2004 (April 20-21, 2004)
ATV, commercial, February 23, 2004, March 03,16, 29, 2004 (May 4-5,12,2004)
Show TV, commercials, March 15, 2004 (May 4-5,12, 2004)
Channel D, "Kadının Sesi" (Women's Voice) program, May 6, 2004 (May 25, 2004)
Show TV, "Sabah Yıldızları" (Morning Stars) program, April 29, (May 25, 2004)
2- For violations of the provision (i) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides " Broadcasts shall not offend the personality of individuals beyond the limits of criticism, shall respect the right of reply and rectification; the news, which the investigation of their accuracy is possible within the framework of code of conduct of media, shall not be broadcast without proper investigation or without being sure of their truthfulness; the given information, provided that it be kept confident, shall not be broadcast unless there is a serious necessity for public interest."
Warnings
CNN Turk, "Editor", "Gece Gorusu" (Night Vision), "Yeni Gun" (New Day) and "Ajans" (Agency) programs, February 25-26, 2004 (April 20-21, 2004)
Dogu TV (East TV) (Erzurum), main news program; August 8, 14, 2003 (April 20-21, 2004)
Ulusal TV (National TV), "Kırmızı Koltuk" (Red Armchair) program, February 9, 2004 (April 20-21, 2004)
Mesaj TV (Message TV), main news program, February 14, 2004 (April 20-21, 2004)
Channel A (Adana), "Bakıs" (Glance) program, February 17, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Ulusal TV, main news program, April 1, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Cukurova TV (Adana), "Haftanın Ardından" (Following a Week) program, December 6-7, 2003 (April 27, 2004)
Radio Turkuaz (Istanbul), "Istekler, Siirler, Iletiler" (Desires, Poems, Messages) program, February 24, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Ulusal Kanal, "Gunun Icinden" (Within the Day) program, February 21, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Radio Gulen (Istanbul), "Catalca Gundem" (Catalca Agenda) program, August 22, 2003 (April 27, 2004)
SRT (Ankara), news program, February 6-9, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Alfa TV (Samsun), news program, January 20, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Klas TV (Samsun), news program, January 14, 15, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Turk Dunyası (Duzce), February 14, 15, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Medya Fm (Samsun), "Kampana" program, October 15, 2003 (April 27, 2004)
Show TV, "Popstar" program, April 5,19,26, 2004 (May 4-5,12, 2004)
3- For violations of the provision (e) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides "Broadcasts shall not violate the national and moral values of the community and Turkish family structure."
Warnings
Show TV, "Sevda Masalı" (Love Story) program, March 11-20, 2004 (April 20-21, 2004)
Channel A (Adana), program named "Bakis," February 17, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Channel D, "Sabah Sabah Seda Sayan" and "Zaga Show", April 29 and May 9, 2004, (May 25, 2004)
4- For violations of the provision (b) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides "Broadcasts shall not instigate the community to violence, terror, ethnical discrimination or shall not incite hate and hostility by making discrimination in the community in terms of the diversities of the social class, race, language, religion, sect and territory or shall not give rise to feelings of hatred in the community."
Defense
Can TV (Diyarbakir), music and news programs, January 7, 2004 (April 20-21, 2004)
Gun TV (Diyarbakir), November 20, December 3, 4, 6, 2003 (April 20-21, 2004)
Anadolu'nun Sesi (Istanbul), "Objektif" (Objective), "Halkin Sesi" (People's Voice), "Gun Izi" (Day's Trace) programs and news programs; October 7, December 9, 14, 15, 19, 25, 2003 (April 27, 2004)
Ozgur Radyo (Ankara), December 19, 2003, (April 27, 2004)
Hakkari FM, October 2, 6, 2003 (April 27, 2004)
Arifan Radyo (Ankara), "Seher Vakti" (Dawn) program, September 2, 2003 (April 27, 2004)
5- 3984 For violations of the provision (a) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides " Broadcasts shall not violate the existence and independence of the Turkish Republic, the territorial and national integrity of the State, the reforms and principles of Atatürk."
Asking for a defense
Gun TV (Diyarbakir), November 20, December 3, 4, 6, 2003 (April 20-21, 2004)
Anadolu'nun Sesi radio, "Objektif", "Halkin Sesi", "Gun Izi" programs and news programs; October 7, December 9, 14, 15, 19, 25, 2003 (April 27, 2004)
6- For violations of the provision (l) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides " Broadcasters shall respect the principles of impartiality, conformity and reliability in news programmes; broadcasts shall not prevent free formation of opinions; the secrecy of the source of information shall be preserved unless there is an intention for misleading the public."
Warnings
Ulusal TV, news programs, April 1, 2004 (April 24, 2004)
7- For violations of the provision (k) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides "Broadcasts shall not present or declare no one as guilty unless there is a court decision; any programme item that leads people to commit a crime or raise the feeling of fear shall not be broadcast."
Warnings
Dogu TV (Erzurum); main news program; August 8, 14, 2003 (April 20-21, 2004)
Channel S (Samsun), "Beyaz Telefon" (White telephone) program, October 28, 2003 (April 24, 2004)
ETV (Edirne), news programs, April 21, June 12-16, July 25-30, August 12-13, 2003 (April 27, 2004)
Sev Radio (Balikesir), news program, January 16 and February 18, 2004 (May 4-5-12, 2004)
Show TV, Haber Ozel (Special News) program, February 24, 2004 (May 25, 2004)
8- For violations of the provision (j) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides "Broadcasts shall not serve to an unfair aim and interest and shall not lead to unfair competition, broadcasts qualified as proclamation and advertising shall be announced clearly without leading to any suspicion; a product promotion created by one agency with its own efforts shall not be broadcast by an other agency as if it belongs to itself; source of the news which are provided by agencies or another media source shall be indicated with particular importance."
Warnings
VTV (Antalya), "Finale Dogru" (Toward the End) program, November 15, 2003 (April 27, 2004)
Mardin Show Radio, January 27, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Ordering programs off the air
ATV, Main News Program, January 19, 2004 (May 4-5,12, 2004) (once)
Star TV, Main News Program, December 31, 2003, January 19-28, 2004 (May 4-5,12, 2004) (once)
9- For violations of the provision (p) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides "Broadcasts shall not resort to contests or similar methods via information communication telephone lines, and no prizes shall be awarded to listeners or viewers or no mediation is provided for awarding prize; lotteries shall not be made, questionnaire and opinion polls via telephone shall be realised before the notary from the preparatory stage to announcement of the results."
Warnings
Show TV, "Serdar Ortac'la Hep Beraber" (All Together with Serdar Ortac) program, January 9, 2004 (April 13, 2004)
10- 3984 sayılı yasanın 4756 sayılı yasayla değiştirilen 4. maddesinin " The broadcasts shall not encourage the use of violence or incite feelings of racial hatred, "na ilişkin (v) bendini ihlalden;
Warnings
Anadolu'nun Sesi Radio (Anadolu's Voice Radio) (Istanbul), February 23, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Barıs Radio (Peace Radio) (Istanbul), February 12, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Star TV, foreign film named, "Hunt 2", May 9, 2004 (May 25, 2004)
Channel D, main news program, April 29, 2004 and May 1, 2, 5, 2004 (May 25, 2004)
Ordering programs off the air
Show TV, "Kurtlar Vadisi" (Valley of the Wolves) program, February 12, 2004 (May 25, 2004) (once)
11- For violations of the provision (p) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides "Broadcasts shall not resort to contests or similar methods via information communication telephone lines, and no prizes shall be awarded to listeners or viewers or no mediation is provided for awarding prize; lotteries shall not be made, questionnaire and opinion polls via telephone shall be realised before the notary from the preparatory stage to announcement of the results."
Warnings
TGRT, "Telekritik" (Telecritic) program, March 4, 2004 (April 13, 2004)
Show TV, "Sinyal" (Signal) program, April 4, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
Star TV, "Miss Turkey 2004" beauty contest, April 28, 2004 (May 31, 2004)
12- For violations of the provision (u) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides "Broadcasts shall not encourage violence and discrimination against women, weak and minors."
Warnings
Show TV, "Haber Ozel" program, February 17, 19, 2004 (April 13, 2004)
Show TV, commercial, May 9, 2004 (May 25, 2004)
Channel 7, commercial, May 8,11, 2004 (May 31, 2004)
TGRT, commercial, May 9, 2004 (May 31, 2004)
Lig TV, commercial, May 9, 2004 (May 31, 2004)
Asking for a defense statement
Ozel Fm (Istanbul), March 10, 2004 (April 27, 2004)
13- For violations of the provision (h) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides "Broadcasts shall serve for the improvement of the general objectives and basic principles of the Turkish national education system and the national culture."
Asking for a defense statement
Channel D, "Sabah Sabah Seda Sayan" program; March 2, 10, 17, 2004 (April 20-21, 2004)
14- For violations of the provision (y) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides Broadcasts shall not reflect the fearful and intimidate features of crime organizations."
Warnings
Ulusal TV, news program, February 29, March 1-2, 2004 (April 20-21, 2004)
15- 3984 Sayılı Yasanın 4756 Sayılı Yasayla değişik 4. maddesinin " Broadcasts shall not be obscene. "na ilişkin (t) bendini ihlalden;
Warnings
Radyo Klas, "Gazoz Agaci" (Soda Tree) program, March 2, 2004 (April 20-21, 2004)
Channel D, commercials, April 17, 2004 (May 4-5-12, 2004)
16- For violations of the provision (s) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides "All the items of the program services shall respect to human dignity and fundamental human rights."
Warnings
Channel 52 (Ordu), news program, November 23, 24, 2003 (April 27, 2004)
Show TV, May 9, 2004 (May 25, 2004)
Channel D, "Kadinin Sesi" program, May 5, 2004 (May 31, 2004)
Channel 7, commercial, May 8, 11, 2004 (May 31, 2004)
TGRT, commercial, May 9, 2004 (May 31, 2004)
Lig TV, commercial, May 9, 2004 (May 31, 2004)
17- For violations of the provision (m) of Article 4 of the Law No. 3984 amended by Law No. 4756 which provides "The advertisements which are deceptive, misleading or that would lead to unfair competition shall not be broadcast."
Warnings
ATV, "Akademi Turkiye" (Academy Turkey) program, May 1, 2004 (May 25, 2004)
Kanal D, "Turkstar" program, April 30, 2004 (May 25, 2004)
Show TV, "Turkiye'nin Yildizlari" (Stars of Turkey), "Popstar Turkiye" and Turkey cup football game, April 30, May 4-5, 2004 (May 25, 2004) (EO/YS/EA/YE)
