Newspaper Editor Threatened With 3,5 Years

An Istanbul prosecutor has demanded up to 3.5 years imprisonment for Birgun [One Day] newspaper Sunday supplement editor Gokhan Gencay for “discouraging the public from military service” by conducting and publishing an interview with conscientious objector Erkan Bolot.

In the hearing of Gencay and Birgun’s Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Cesmecioglu at the Beyoglu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on July 18, prosecutor Mehmet Akilli demanded for Gencay to be punished according to article 318 of the new Penal Code and asked for the acquittal of Cesmecioglu as the identity of the person responsible for the offence was known.

Article 318 rules six months to two years imprisonment for those who encourage or suggest in a way that will discourage the people from military service and increases the sentence by half if the offence is committed through the press.

Turkey has 60 self-proclaimed conscientious objectors who are challenging compulsory military service and a series of cases have recently been launched against journalists and newspapers interviewing them.

Akilli said in his opinion this week that the 30 October 2005 Sunday Supplement of the newspaper carried an interview titled "Let us dry the human resource of wars” which committed the defense due to remarks it contained.

The case has been adjourned to October 18 where attorney Deniz Ceylan has said they will submit Gencay's defense. (EO/KO/II/YE)