Activists Petition Against 301

Today (10 August), the parties represented in parliament were sent a petition by the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD). The association's Commission for the Freedom of Expression had organised a protest in front of the Galatasaray post office in central Istanbul.

A petition has also been sent to the new Parliament Speaker Köksal Toptan. In the petition, the association calls for an acceptance of freedom of expression and the abolishment of Article 301.

Around 10 association members were joined by human rights activist and lawyer Eren Keskin.

Freedom of expression without fear

Holding a banner saying, "No to 301! Freedom of Expression", association members met with the press. Şaban Dayanan read a statement, in which the association called for freedom of expression without fear and worries, and the need for an atmosphere in which there could be free discussion.

The greatest hurdle for the freedom of expression was the constitution created by the military junta after the 1980 military coup.

Call for change in many laws

Apart from Article 301, there were other problematic laws in the Turkish penal code, said Dayanan. There were also problems with the martial law, the Law on the Formation of State Security Courts, the Law on Terrorism, the Law on Political Parties, the Law on the Press, the Law on Associations, the Law on Meetings and Marches and the Law on the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).

The press statement ended with the message, "To oppose 301 is to appropriate democracy", giving examples of arrests of journalists and prosecutions of writers and academics based on the claim of "insult". (EÖ/AG)