Monetary Fine for Publication Bans under Anti-Terror Law

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) handed down a monetary fine to Turkey on the grounds of illegal restrictions of freedom of expression. The case was based on the application of executives of five weekly magazines.

Erdal Ölmez and Ali Turgay, owners of the magazines Özgür Yorum, Haftaya Bakış, Yedinci Gün, Politika and Ayrıntı, had opened the case at the international court. On 5 October, the ECHR announced their verdict for a violation of Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights on "Freedom of Expression".

Turkey has to pay € 4,800 (TL 9,500) in compensation to the applicants.

The case stemmed from a one-month publication suspension of the five magazines under charges of "spreading propaganda for the PKK organization" according to the Anti-Terror Law. The domestic sanctions had been based on publications in issues from 2008 and 2009.

In recent years, most convictions of Turkey related to freedom of expression at the ECHR are based on the Anti-Terror Law. (EÖ/VK)