Erol Önderoğlu - Bianet

Erol Önderoğlu

Page 7

Writer Akhanlı Released Pending Trial

Writer Akhanlı Released Pending Trial

Writer Akhanlı was released pending trial in the first hearing after 113 days in detention. Akanlı was arrested this August when he entered Turkey from his home country Germany because of his alleged involvement in an armed robbery 21 years ago.

9 December 2010

Sel Publishing Acquitted of "Obscenity" Charges

Sel Publishing Acquitted of "Obscenity" Charges

Publisher Sancı and interpreter Yerguz were acquitted even after the Prime Ministerial Board evaluated the three books on subject as "harming the public's sense of shame". An expert report by the Galatsaray University had previously assessed the books as "works of literature".

8 December 2010

Court Insists on Detentions

REVOLUTIONARY HEADQUARTERS TRIAL

Court Insists on Detentions

No further releases were decided in the third hearing of the "Revolutionary Headquarters" trial. Customs officer Öncü and Captain Öztürk have been detained for 18 months now and will remain in prison for another 5 months until the next hearing on 12 April.

8 December 2010

Günter Wallraff and Turkish Writers Support Indicted Author

Günter Wallraff and Turkish Writers Support Indicted Author

The German author Günter Wallraff will be one of the observers at the trial against Erdoğan Akhanlı who has been detained for 5 months because of an armed robbery allegedly committed on behalf o an illegal organization in 1989. Wallraff supports Akhanlı who is facing a life sentence.

8 December 2010

Students Protest Ends in Riot

POLICE VIOLENCE

Students Protest Ends in Riot

The police violently intervened against students who had gathered to protest the Higher Education Council (YÖK) during PM Erdoğan's meeting with university rectors. The students were exposed to tear gas and beating. 40 of them were taken into custody but released later on.

7 December 2010

And Another Turkish Journalist in Jail...

And Another Turkish Journalist in Jail...

Berivan Eker, former editor-in-chief of the Renge Heviya Jine women magazine, was arrested on 5 December. Her predecessors Gurbet Çakar, Sultan Sonsuz, Ruken Aktaş and Sibel Esmer are either convicted or facing prison terms.

7 December 2010

Turkey and Balkans Should Join Efforts in Struggle for Rights

Turkey and Balkans Should Join Efforts in Struggle for Rights

The lack of co-operation between countries in south-eastern Europe was deplored at the round table meeting of the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner on rights organizations in Turkey and the Balkans as well as at SEEMO's 4th Media Forum.

6 December 2010

Second Death Threat against Kurdish Politician Miroğlu in 3 Months

Second Death Threat against Kurdish Politician Miroğlu in 3 Months

A death threat against the Kurdish politician Miroğlu was posted on the website of the HPG, an armed wing of the outlawed PKK. The article signed by Toprak Cengiz read, "If he continues like this, we will put a red line into use! Miroğlu will be dead then!"

30 November 2010

Deputy Chief of Police Sued for "Torture"

Deputy Chief of Police Sued for "Torture"

The Beyoğlu Public Chief Prosecution opened a case against five police officers for alleged torture of 2 young people taken into custody on1 May 2009. In an important decision, the Bakırköy Court decided to include former Deputy Chief of Police Özsavaş in the case.

29 November 2010

Journalist in Jail for Attending DTP Symposium

Journalist in Jail for Attending DTP Symposium

DİHA reporter Açıkyer received 10-month prison term under charges of "spreading propaganda for the PKK" because he attended a symposium of the pro-Kurdish DTP. The court handed down various sentences to13 defendants.

29 November 2010

First Application in Kurdish to ECHR

First Application in Kurdish to ECHR

Pro-Kurdish DTP member Alınak is tried together with another 93 people under "propaganda" charges on the grounds of a critical press release issued after the ban of the political party. Alınak will apply to the ECHR for the right to a defence in Kurdish as his mother tongue.

26 November 2010

Colonel Öz Tried at High Criminal Court?

HRANT DINK MURDER CASE

Colonel Öz Tried at High Criminal Court?

The Trabzon 2nd Criminal Court applied for a merger of the trial against Ali Öz, prosecuted for allegedly disregarding crucial information obtained prior to the Hrant Dink murder, and the trial against 7 gendarmerie officers heard at the Trabzon 1st High Criminal Court.

26 November 2010

Prosecutor Şanal Sues Author of "Justice in a Gown"

Prosecutor Şanal Sues Author of "Justice in a Gown"

The Prosecutor of Erzurum Şanal filed a compensation claim against journalist İlhan Taşçı on the grounds of his book "Justice in a gown". The prosecutor just recently opened a trial against journalist Saymaz based on his book "The postmodern Jihad".

25 November 2010

Acquittal of Journalists Durukan, Çakkalkurt, Koçali and Pekgöz

PRESS FREEDOM

Acquittal of Journalists Durukan, Çakkalkurt, Koçali and Pekgöz

Milliyet newspaper employees Durukan and Çakkalkurt were acquitted of charges of "spreading propaganda for an illegal organization" on the grounds of one of their news items and so were Günlük daily officials Koçali and Pekgöz who were tried for the same reason.

24 November 2010

RTÜK Fines CNN Türk

RTÜK Fines CNN Türk

By majority vote, RTÜK imposed a heavy monetary fine to the news channel CNN Türk on the grounds of a statement made by Kurdish politician Özçelik in the program "What's going on". He had described the militant PKK as a "political movement".

24 November 2010

Students Convicted for Criticism of Prime Minister

Students Convicted for Criticism of Prime Minister

18 students were sentenced to 1 year and 3 month each behind bars because of criticizing PM Erdoğan at the opening ceremony of the Istanbul Technical University. They had voiced their protest in slogans and banners.

24 November 2010

Pro-Kurdish Politicians Sentenced for "Propaganda"

Pro-Kurdish Politicians Sentenced for "Propaganda"

Atalay, mayor of the south-eastern province of Batman, was sentenced to 2.5 years in jail for alleged spreading of propaganda for an illegal organization. Gençdal from the Group for a Peaceful and Democratic Solution received a 20-month sentence.

24 November 2010

"Detention Turned into Punishment"

PERSECUTION OF SDP AND TÖP MEMBERS

"Detention Turned into Punishment"

"Custody, detention and oppression do not intimidate us" was written on the banners of 300 protestors who criticized the detention of 13 left wing activities in a demonstration in Istanbul. The members of legal political groups were arrested two months ago and are still in prison.

23 November 2010

Legal Procedures against Taraf Journalists Kütahyalı and Miroğlu

Legal Procedures against Taraf Journalists Kütahyalı and Miroğlu

Two Taraf newspaper writers are in the eye of the judiciary once again. The Ministry of Justice issued permission for an investigation about journalist Kütahyalı. Kurdish politician and journalist Miroğlu is tried for expressing his thoughts on the Kurdish question.

23 November 2010

Prosecutor Şanal Sues Journalist Saymaz

Prosecutor Şanal Sues Journalist Saymaz

Former Special Authority Prosecutor Osman Şanal filed a compensation claim against Radikal newspaper reporter İsmail Saymaz because of the journalist's book "The Postmodern Jihad". Saymaz faces a total of 97 years behind bars in twelve different trials.

22 November 2010

Bosporus University Protests Police Violence on Campus

Bosporus University Protests Police Violence on Campus

212 faculty members and lecturers of the Bosporus University in Istanbul issued a written statement to condemn a police blockade and police violence during a campus visit of Prime Minster Erdoğan and five ministers.

15 November 2010

Conscientious Objector Süver to be Hospitalized on Compulsion

Conscientious Objector Süver to be Hospitalized on Compulsion

Conscientious objector Süver will have been detained for four months by the coming hearing in December. The Military Court decided again to issue a medical report and to transfer Süver to a military prison.

15 November 2010

Prison Threat for Sports Journalist Uluç

Prison Threat for Sports Journalist Uluç

Sports journalist Uluç might face two years in prison for an alleged insult of Galatasaray football club sports director Adnan Sezgin. The indictment has not been accepted yet.

12 November 2010

"Ağar Would Receive that Sentence if He Had Stolen a Hen"

SUSURLUK

"Ağar Would Receive that Sentence if He Had Stolen a Hen"

The Ankara Prosecution demanded a 1-year prison sentence for Mehmet Ağar who had connections to the victims of the so-called "Susurluk scandal" which revealed connections between politicians and the mafia. The Contemporary Lawyers Association criticized the plea.

12 November 2010

Journalists Düzel and Adnan Prosecuted over PKK Interview

Journalists Düzel and Adnan Prosecuted over PKK Interview

Taraf newspaper journalists Düzel and Demir are facing imprisonment of 7.5 years for an interview with executives of the militant Kurdistan Workers Party. Düzel rejected the charges of "propaganda for an illegal organization" and claimed to have made "political propaganda".

12 November 2010

Acquitted of Proselytism, Sentenced for "Record of Personal Data"

Acquitted of Proselytism, Sentenced for "Record of Personal Data"

A Silivri court handed down a monetary fine of TL 4,500 to defendants Taştan and Topal for "registering personal data". They stood trial for alleged Protestant missionary activities. The defendants were acquitted of charges of inciting hatred and insult of 'Turkishness'.

11 November 2010

"Freedom of Speech" still Fuels Concern

TURKEY 2010 PROGRESS REPORT

"Freedom of Speech" still Fuels Concern

The Progress Report of the European Union Commission criticized the numerous trials opened against journalists for reporting about the "Ergenekon" case and warned Turkey on procedures that result in auto-censorship of the press.

11 November 2010

YouTube Removed Videos of Former Opposition Leader

YouTube Removed Videos of Former Opposition Leader

After another decision for an access ban on YouTube, officials of the global video sharing site removed the videos on subject from the data base. The Telecommunications Communication Presidency had requested the removal of videos concerning former CHP Chairman Baykal.

10 November 2010

President Gül: Legal Reforms for Detained Journalists on their Way

President Gül: Legal Reforms for Detained Journalists on their Way

At a conference in London, President Gül announced that legal reforms are on their way regarding detained journalists in Turkey. 23 professional press organizations had recently urged the government for legal reforms and the release of 50 journalists.

10 November 2010

Journalist Kütahyalı Sentenced upon Deputy's Complaint

Journalist Kütahyalı Sentenced upon Deputy's Complaint

An Istanbul Court handed down a monetary fine of TL 14,000 in compensation to journalist Kütahyalı from Taraf newspaper. The journalist was sentenced because he called Republican People's Party deputy Arıtman the "racist-fascist CHP deputy from Izmir".

9 November 2010

Media and Education's Crucial Role in Struggle against Hate Crime

Media and Education's Crucial Role in Struggle against Hate Crime

The new media was considered as especially problematic at the meeting on "Hate Speech and Hate Crime" in Ankara on 6 November. It was mentioned that raising awareness in the local media and education system is an important part of the struggle against hate crime.

8 November 2010

Journalists Pursue Freedom for Detained Colleagues

"STANDING UP FOR JOURNALISM"

Journalists Pursue Freedom for Detained Colleagues

The Freedom for Journalists Platform announced that 50 press employees are currently imprisoned and that 1,200 trials against journalists are pending. Delegations of the platform are going to monitor the cases against sociologist Beşikçi and journalist Koçali.

8 November 2010