Erhan Üstündağ - Bianet

Erhan Üstündağ

Page 5

Government Change in Northern Cyprus

Government Change in Northern Cyprus

President Talat’s party has lost the general elections in Northern Cyprus, while the National Unity Party has made a return.

Industrial Production Gone Down by a Quarter

According to the the Turkish Statistical Institute TÜİK, there has been a 23.7 percent decrease in industrial production compared to last year. The production of cars and car-related products has gone down by 59 percent.

Erdoğan Contradicts Message of “Alliance of Civilisations” at Home

Erdoğan Contradicts Message of “Alliance of Civilisations” at Home

As co-sponsor of the Alliance of Civilisations, Erdoğan is aiming to solve tensions between Muslims and the West with a liberal media and policies on youth, education and migration. However, his government is going in the other direction.

What Would You Tell Obama?

What Would You Tell Obama?

After the G20 and NATO summits, the US President is now in Turkey. We would like Obama to close down military bases, pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and fight against global climate change.

Ergenekon Reveals “Connections with PKK and Marxist-Leninists”

Ergenekon Reveals “Connections with PKK and Marxist-Leninists”

The second indictment in the Ergenekon case, accepted by court, claims that the organisation planned to take over the PKK and HADEP, and that it had relations with the MLKP.

23 Children Released in Diyarbakır, Dozens More in Prison

18 children who participated in a march following their friend's murder by police in Cizre and five other who participated in protests against PM's visit to Diyarbakır -all accused with terror charged- are released from prison.

Over 3 Million Unemployed at Beginning of 2009

Data from the Turkish Statistical Institute shows that the deepening of the crisis has caused an increase in unemployment. In December 2008 alone, 533,000 people lost their jobs.

Former Prosecutor Wants Coup General Evren in Court

Former Prosecutor Wants Coup General Evren in Court

Former prosecutor Kayasu has applied to the Adana prosecution to process the indictment he prepared in 2000.

Act Now, Cease Trying Children With Terror Charges

In a coordinated event in five cities, an initiative of nearly 40 NGOs sent letters to relevant authorities demanding an end to taking children to court on terror charges.

265 Intellectuals Demand Justice For Children

Actress Yıldırımlar calls for the immediate release of children tried with terror charges for participating in protests and demands amendments to law, in a conference which a petition is revealed to public.

Diyarbakır Police Prevents Release of Children

Diyarbakır Police Prevents Release of Children

Two children arrested for “membership in an illegal organisation” after taking part in protests during PM Erdoğan’s visit are being tried in detention. Rights activists came to watch the trials.

26 February 2009

AKP and CHP Promise Change in Terrorism Law for Children

AKP and CHP Promise Change in Terrorism Law for Children

A delegation of human rights activists from Diyarbakır visited parliament yesterday, protesting against the fact that hundreds of children are being tried for alleged membership in a terrorist organisation.

19 February 2009

Actors Protest Against Journalist’s Antisemitism

More than 300 signatures have been collected in protest at the comments of Bugün newspaper journalist Aykut Işıklar, for comments he wrote about theatre actor Nedim Saban.

12 February 2009

“Kurdistan” Report for Obama: How to Disarm the PKK

Academic Barkey from Lehigh University has prepared a report on conflict prevention in Kurdistan for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

12 February 2009

Stagnating Economy is Lowering Inflation

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, the annual rise in consumer prices was 9.5 percent in January 2009.

4 February 2009

Armenian Diaspora Reactions to Apology Campaign

Armenian Diaspora Reactions to Apology Campaign

An Armenian academic in Australia has initiated an apology campaign in reply. However, the European Armenian Federation has condemned any campaign without genocide recognition as “populist”.

4 February 2009

17 Percent Decrease in Natural Gas Bills

Prime Minister Erdoğan has announced that gas prices will decrease by 17 percent for domestic use and 18 percent for industrial use.

3 February 2009

Conscientious Objection Is on EU Accession Agenda

Conscientious Objection Is on EU Accession Agenda

Answering the questions of Dutch MEP Erik Meijer, the European Commission said that EU accession negotiations would also include a discussion of the right to conscientious objection or social instead of military service.

3 February 2009

One Child Dead, His Friends in Prison – Justice?

Currently dozens of children around Turkey are in prison. They are being kept in unacceptable conditions and may face steep prison sentences.

30 January 2009

Degrading Proposal To PKK’s Imprisoned Leader Öcalan

Degrading Proposal To PKK’s Imprisoned Leader Öcalan

Minister of Justice announced that if imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) Abdullah Öcalan wanted to make use of his rights, then he should stop the PKK.

25 November 2008

60 Officials Will Be Tried For Ceber’s Death Due To Torture

The Prosecutor’s Office asked for life imprisonment for the four officials who are accused of torture and death of Engin Ceber. The prosecutor based his indictment on the European Human Rights Convention rather than the Turkish Penal Code.

25 November 2008

Challenged Children Cry For More Resources

York Duchess tapes secretly the inhumane conditions in the two Turkish rehabilitation centers where challenged children are also “cared”. Social services expert Karatay points to the lack of resources, although the mentality is slowly changing.

3 November 2008

Ahmet Insel Says The Government Must Step Up To The Responsibility

Ahmet Insel Says The Government Must Step Up To The Responsibility

Professor Ahmet Insel says government’s stepping aside and letting the General Staff face the public and the media is not an acceptable behavior in democracies.

16 October 2008

Alevi Organizations Urge for Lifting Mandatory Religion Courses

Alevi organizations, which do not agree with the principles of Sunni Islam, protest the mandatory religion courses in schools, taught in spite of the decisions of the European Human Rights Court and the State Council. The activity will continue until the schools open in September.

Four Urban Explosions In One Month

There have been four explosions or bombed attacks in Güngören and Üsküdar districts in Istanbul, Mersin and Izmir. Authorities and the media held the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) responsible for the attacks, but the PKK have not assumed any responsibility yet.

Prosecutor Says No Need For Special Laws To Protect Atatürk

Prosecutor Says No Need For Special Laws To Protect Atatürk

Beyoğlu Prosecutor Muzaffer Yalçın let go Nuray Canan Bezirgan and Kevser Çakır, who were accused of insulting Atatürk. He says not liking Atatürk will not diminish his value.

Kurdish Workers Party Says They Have Nothing To Do With Güngören Explosions

Kurdish Workers Party Says They Have Nothing To Do With Güngören Explosions

Rejecting the rexplosion reports against them, the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) says they never support such acts against civilians. Non-governmental organizations, political parties and professional chambers protest the attack.

Finally Sexual Harassment Gets Attention

Following the Democratic Society Party and the Republican People’s Party, the Justice and Development Party introduces a bill that will make “sexual harassment” a crime not requiring a complaint.

Mandatory Religion Classes Continue To Torture

The government insists on not removing the mandatory religion classes. According to Alevi leaders, AKP’s understanding of freedom of belief is limited with the requirements and wishes of its own constituency, the sunni community.

“No Democracy Will Come Out Of An Anti-Democratic Investigation”

“No Democracy Will Come Out Of An Anti-Democratic Investigation”

The head of Human Rights Foundation of Turkey evaluates the recent Ergenekon investigation and concludes that there is no reason to be overly optimistic and claim that this operation will result in Turkey’s democratization.

When The Topic Is Rape, Media Makes A woman Out Of A Child

Acting irresponsibly, the media turns a sexual relation between two children into a rape by a woman of a boy.

The European Council Reconsiders Turkey’s Status

The European Council Reconsiders Turkey’s Status

Emphasizing the AKP closure case in its latest report, the European Council proposes that Turkey goes back to being monitored. The EU expert Aktar says “the reaction is not new, the relations with the EU are at the point of stalling.”

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