Erol Önderoğlu

Page 20

PRESS FREEDOM

Journalist Sözal Released from Detention

Sabah newspaper journalist Barış Sözal and his driver Ali Kocatepe were released by the gendarmerie after they had been arrested and kept in detention for 8 hours. The reason for the detention: "secretly taking pictures in a military area".

17 November 2009

JOURNALIST MURDER VICITIMS

61 Journalists Killed in 1 century

The Turkish Journalists Association announced that after the murder of Hasan Fehmi Bey in 1909, 61 journalists have been killed until today. The association organizes a memorial celebration, also inviting relatives of murdered journalists.

17 November 2009

ERGENEKON AND THE SECRECY OF INVESTIGATION

15 Journalists Convicted for Reporting on Ergenekon Investigation

The judiciary had been criticized for remaining insensitive in the context of "confidentiality violations" in investigations, mainly regarding the Ergenekon case. Thereupon the Ministry of Justice announced that 15 journalists have been convicted and 33 public officials are under investigation.

13 November 2009

DTP Member Demirtaş Appeals against Prison Sentence

Lawyer Cihan Aydın filed an appeal for his client Nurettin Demirtaş, former DTP leader. Demirtaş had received a 6 years and 3 months prison sentence because he had attended a funeral of PKK members. DTP member Sebahat Tuncel is also prosecuted under allegations of "membership of an illegal organization".

13 November 2009

KURDISH INITIATIVE AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Milliyet Daily on Trial for News about "Kurdish Initiative"

Milliyet newspaper reporter Durukan and director Çakkalkurt are facing prison sentences for publishing an announcement of PKK executive Duran Kalkan. The prosecutor proposed a fine to be paid in advance in order to drop the case. The Istanbul 10th High Criminal Court has not yet decided on the outcome.

12 November 2009

KURDISH INITIATIVE AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Milliyet Daily on Trial for News about "Kurdish Initiative"

12 November 2009

BIA MEDIA MONITORING REPORT THIRD QUARTER 2009

190 People Sued for Their Opinions

The latest quarterly BIA Media Monitoring Report is dominated by cases concerned with "incitement of hatred and hostility" and "spreading propaganda for an illegal organization". 6 journalists were attacked and seek justice in court. 46 people under charges of "defamation" face prison sentences of more than 76 years altogether and fines of 1,186,610 TL in compensation...

10 November 2009

KURDISH INITIATIVE AND THE RIGHT TO KURDISH POLITICS

Prison Sentence for "Propaganda in Kurdish"

DTP Karabağlar Municipality Mayor candidate Coşgun and Gaziemir candidate Seyhan were convicted in Izmir for addressing voters in Kurdish prior to the elections on 29 March this year. They were each handed a 6 months prison sentence. Cosgun said, "If a democratic constitution is being issued, this case is dropped anyways".

10 November 2009

HATE SPEECH

General Convicted for Defamation of Assassinated Hrant Dink

Brigadier General Karaduman was sentenced to pay 2,000 Turkish Lira in compensation for hate speeches against assassinated Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

9 November 2009

EAVESDROPPING

Phone Tapping Investigation in Telecommunications Institution

After a referring court decision of the Sincan 1st High Criminal Court, a judge and 3 specialists on the field review the Telecommunication Communication Presidency. They are investigating the tapping complaint of YARSAV Association president Eminağaoğlu.

6 November 2009

DEMOCRATIC INITIATIVE

President Gül Faces Demands from Tunceli

During his visit in Tunceli President Abdullah Gül faced several demands of local NGO's, such as to stop the construction of dams, to reform the 'Cem' houses and the Department of Religious Affairs, to release 86-year-old Yusuf Kaplan, to apologize for what happened in 1938 and to disclose the grave of Seyit Rıza and his friends.

6 November 2009

COUP PLANS

Çiçek's Statement Requested within 10 Days

The Istanbul Attorney General summoned Colonel Dursun Çiçek to testify on the "Action Plan against Reactionary Forces" within the coming 10 days. Çiçek allegedly signed the plan. 'Genç Siviller', 'DurDe' and the Green Party demand to penalize the responsible people.

4 November 2009

Police Intervention on Republic Day Celebrations

The police forced members of ADD and Eğitim İş into police buses to prevent them from participating in celebrations for Republic Day in Denizli. Contrary to previous years, the Governor's Office had not issued permission to the groups to take part in the parade. People booed at members of the AKP municipality staff.

30 October 2009

KURDISH INITIATIVE

Anti-Terror Law Thwarts Kurdish Initiative

Filiz Koçali, Ramazan Pekgöz and Ziya Çiçekçi from Günlük newspaper are facing imprisonment and severe fines because of an interview with Murat Karayilan on Kandil Mountain about the Kurdish initiative. The case is scheduled for 24 February 2010.

29 October 2009

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Human Rights Defender Received 3 Years Sentence in First Hearing

The Adana 1st Criminal Court of First Instance convicted İHD Branch Chairman Ethem Açıkalın on the grounds of "incitement of hatred and hostility" in the first hearing of the case. TV Açıkalan had criticized detention and heavy punishments of children that had participated in protest actions. He was handed the maximum prison sentence of 3 years.

28 October 2009

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Journalist Sarısözen: "Propaganda not Made by Us but by the People"

Günlük newspaper journalist Sarısözen and newspaper owner Çiçekçi are facing a 5 years prison sentence under charges of "propaganda for an illegal organization". Sarısözen argued in the hearing, "It is not us making organizational propaganda but the people". The case is adjourned till March 2010.

27 October 2009

PRESS FREEDOM

Prison Sentence for "Azadiya Welat" Distributor Altay

Azadiya Welat distributor Altay was found guilty of "making propaganda for an organization". The court decided on the grounds of a picture in one of the issues showing PKK leader Öcalan holding up the daily with both of his hands. Defendant Ete was also convicted because he had unfolded pieces of cloth with the organization's emblem at the opening ceremony of an office.

26 October 2009

HRANT DINK MURDER

Lawyer Demands 28 Years Prison Sentence for Journalist

The court prosecuting journalist Şener will investigate whether supplemental deed of Şener's debated book "The Dink Murder and the Lies of the Intelligence" is included in the Dink murder file. Şener addressed police officer Yılmazer in the hearing, "It was your duty to protect Dink, instead of writing an annotation".

26 October 2009

Atalay: "Democratic Initiative" Carried on Despite Opposition

Interior Minister Atalay criticized opposition parties MHP's and CHP's statements concerning the peace groups that returned to Turkey in the beginning of this week. Commenting harshly on the welcome events of DTP, he emphasized that the opening process is a success and that the government is going to continue it.

23 October 2009

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

8-Page Newspaper Banned for Contents of Page 9

The Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court banned the weekly Özgür Görüş newspaper for 1 months under charges of "making propaganda for the PKK organization" on page 9 of the 8-page issue.

23 October 2009

Attacks against Journalists on the Rise

The Turkish Journalists Society published a declaration against journalists' increasing exposure to violence lately: "We will not hesitate to apply legal ways in order to seek the rights of our colleagues and we know it as our duty to inform the public".

22 October 2009

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Journalists Convicted for Criticizing Judge

Selmi Yılmaz and Fakir Yılmaz, owner and editor-in-chief respectively of Kuzey Doğu Anadolu daily, have to pay 4,000 Turkish Lira in compensation. 2 Judges had filed a complaint about them, originally demanding 40,000 TL in compensation. The journalists are going to lodge an appeal against the decision.

22 October 2009

PRESS FREEDOM

ECHR: Compensation for Ban of Kurdish Newspapers

Turkey was convicted by the ECHR of putting several newspapers to silence. 26 journalists from 4 Kurdish newspapers had applied to the European court. Turkey has to pay thousands of Euros in compensation to the complainants.

21 October 2009

ERGENEKON CASE

Ölmez, Şahin and Oğuztan Released in Ergenekon Case

The court decided to release Erol Ölmez, Kahraman Şahin and Ümit Oğuzhan, prosecuted under the first indictment regarding the "Ergenekon terror organization". Judge Şengün furthermore requested the release of 9 other defendants including Gürses and Kerinçsiz, but this claim was rejected with the majority of votes.

21 October 2009

RSF PRESS FREEDOM INDEX 2009

Turkey Worsened Press Freedom Record

Turkey fell back 20 places in this year's RSF Worldwide Press Freedom Index. The country shares rank 122 together with the Philippines. The front-runners for press freedom are Denmark, Finland and Ireland. Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea bring up the rear of the index.

21 October 2009

INTERNET CENSORSHIP

Seventh Website Ban within One Month

Access has been banned to the expatriates.com website which provides information and networking services for people constantly living abroad. The decision was taken by the Telecommunication Communication Presidency for reasons of "administrative measures".

19 October 2009

HRANT DINK MURDER TIAL

Akyürek Deposed from Office - Severe Neglect in Dink Case

Chief of Police Intelligence Office Ramazan Akyürek was removed from office. Akyürek was chief of police in Trabzon before the Dink murder and had employed Erhan Tuncel as an under-cover police informant. The Supervisory Committee held Akyürek responsible for neglect of his duty. The Dink family blamed him of a "neglect resulting in death".

19 October 2009

EU PROGESS REPORT ON JUSTICE

EU Doubts Trial Procedures of Dink Case

The EU Progress Report criticizes the quality of investigations concerning court cases. High-profile trials like the Dink murder case raise doubts about the role of security forces and their cooperation with the judiciary. Also RSF expresses their concerns about the Dink case.

16 October 2009

Let Us not Forget about the Anti-Terror Law either, Mr. Ekşi!

There are some unsolved discrepancies in our minds related to freedom of communication. Let us not leave those contradictions to the arbitrariness of the government on behalf of security. Oktay Ekşi says, "The EU is finally aware of the Turkish Criminal Code and the Anti-Terror Law. We would also like to remind Mr. Ekşi of this fact.

16 October 2009

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND CRITICISM

Cartoonist Özdabak on Trial

Yeni Asya newspaper cartoonist Halil İbrahim Özdabak faces a 2 years and 8 months prison sentence for one of his political caricatures. The illustration shows court president Osman Kaçmaz on his judge's podium, which is positioned on top of a military tank.

15 October 2009

Justice for Children Group Visited Turkish National Assembly

The Justice for Children Group demands a well-grounded and quick legal solution for the children that became victims of the Anti-Terrorism Law to avoid further prevalence of the problem. The group met MPs of Turkey's major parties in the National Assembly.

15 October 2009

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

1 Year Sentence for 9 Human Rights Defenders

Human Rights Foundation Branch chairman Ethem Açıkalın and representatives of 2 furhter human rights organizations are handed a 1 year prison sentence each. They participated in a press release criticizing the killing of Kevser Mızrak in a police operation. Açıkalın filed an appeal against the decision.

15 October 2009