Local Journalists Targeted by Authorities

"There are 27 court cases against us for our coverage of the provocations experienced in Ardahan before and after the visit of Emine Ayna, co-chair of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) and four other MPs. In addition, the court cases are not being merged, so that all our time is being spent in court."

Fakir Yılmaz, editor of the www.kuzeyanadolugazetesi.com news website of the Kuzey Doğu Anadolu (Northeastern Anatolia) newspaper, tells bianet that he has been in court for seven cases so far.

Ardahan authorities seem to be filing criminal complaints against Yılmaz, as well as Selmi Yılmaz, owner of the newspaper, and Nihat Yılmaz, editor of the Son Vilayet newspaper any time they feel criticised.

The three journalists face prison sentences and compensation claims.

"Hatred and hostility"

The Ardahan 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance has postponed the trial concerned with the coverage of the visit of the DTP politicians on 28 November 2008 to 4 November in order to complete paperwork.

Yılmaz says that they are accused of "inciting the public to hatred and hostility".

Compensation claim for "insult"

In another case, Ardahan judge Dilek Şen and prosecutor Emrah Unal are demanding 40,000 TL (around 18,300 Euros) compensation, claiming that they were insulted in an article entitled "Should I have demanded a change in judge?", published on 14 May 2009. The compensation case will be heard on 30 September.

The judge and prosecutor are also taking Selmi and Fakir Yılmaz to criminal court. The journalists are accused of "insulting public officials because of their duty". This case will continue in November.

Court case for "revolutionary martyr"

In yet another case, the three journalists are on trial for an article reporting on the visit to the printing press of the father of Orhan Keskin, a revolutionary from Ardahan.

Following the complaint of the Ardahan police department, the prosecution is accusing the journalists of "inciting the public to hatred and hostility" and "spreading propaganda of an illegal organisation".

The journalists had referred to Orhan Keskin as "the Ardahan revolutionary martyr who died in the Diyarbakır dungeons". They had used information found on Google to give biographical information about Keskin. Now they face a prison sentence.

Court case for bulldozer criticism

As if this were not enough, Fakir Yılmaz also faces a demand for compensation from district governor (Kaymakam) Önder Çan, whom he had criticised for taking a 20-ton bulldozer onto a frozen lake in order to clear the path for a military tent put up as part of a festival. The ice broke and the bulldozer was in danger for sinking. It took dozens of vehicles to finally rescue the bulldozer in the evening.

The article reporting on this incident was entitled "Authorities in Ardahan Must Be Mad", making use of the word "Çıldır", which here refers both to the district and to "çıldırmış", "mad". The article was also published in the national Taraf newspaper on 11 January.  (EÖ/AG)