Hikmet Adal - Bianet

Page 9

‘Turkey’s NGO bill has no predictability’

‘Turkey’s NGO bill has no predictability’

Prof. Şule Özsoy-Boyunsuz, an academic specialized in Constitutional law, has commented on Turkey’s new NGO bill: “The government might wake up one morning, pick an association and shut it down next morning. This law has no predictability.”

25 December 2020

‘The bill foresees the same process for civil society as the State of Emergency’

‘The bill foresees the same process for civil society as the State of Emergency’

Speaking to bianet about the bill that would allow the appointment of trustees to NGOs, Kaos GL Association’s Legal Coordinator Dikmen says, “It foresees an inspection process that will spread all across civil society and has no boundaries, like a virus.”

25 December 2020

‘A dangerous course of events for human rights in Turkey’

BILL ON NGOS

‘A dangerous course of events for human rights in Turkey’

Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch Chair Gülseren Yoleri has spoken to bianet about the bill that will enable the Ministry of Interior to appoint trustees to NGOs, if passed: “They want to break the resistance points of civil society.”

21 December 2020

Osman Kavala not released

Osman Kavala not released

The İstanbul 36th High Criminal Court has ruled that arrested businessperson and rights defender Osman Kavala shall remain behind bars. The next hearing of the case will be held on February 5, 2021.

18 December 2020

‘Court gave insufficient time for statements of defense’

HRANT DINK MURDER CASE

‘Court gave insufficient time for statements of defense’

Bakırcıoğlu, an attorney of Dink family, noted that the two-day time given by the court for statements as to the accusations was not sufficient and he would not make a statement. The court has started hearing the defendants' statements of defense.

17 December 2020

2 days for statements of defense in a 4-year trial

HRANT DİNK MURDER CASE

2 days for statements of defense in a 4-year trial

In the trial of public officials over the assasination of journalist Hrant Dink, the court board has given only two days to the parties to prepare their statements of defense as to the accusations. The hearing lasted for only 10 minutes.

15 December 2020

Prosecutor demands prison sentence for 53 defendants in Hrant Dink murder case

OPINION AS TO THE ACCUSATIONS

Prosecutor demands prison sentence for 53 defendants in Hrant Dink murder case

Announcing his opinion as to the accusations, the prosecutor has demanded prison sentence for 53 defendants and the acquittal of 12 defendants. While Ramazan Akyürek faces life sentence, Ali Fuat Yılmazer faces aggravated life sentence.

15 December 2020

‘Press card’ lawsuit against Turkey’s Communications Directorate

‘Press card’ lawsuit against Turkey’s Communications Directorate

Journalist Aydın Engin has filed a lawsuit against the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications over its failure to give him his permanent press card for over two years: “It is an acquired right; no institution can deny it without reasonable justification.”

11 December 2020

Union secures majority in factory, boss dismisses 80 workers

Union secures majority in factory, boss dismisses 80 workers

More than 80 workers have been dismissed from the Ekmekçioğulları Metal Factory in Çorum province on the day when the United Metal Workers’ Union was granted the right to represent workers by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services.

10 December 2020

‘Sometimes, we also get surprised at how we live’

MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS IN TURKEY

‘Sometimes, we also get surprised at how we live’

This is the story of two minimum wage earners. Their lives might be different, but what they are faced with is similar. Kader needs boots and Samet a coat. Do you think they can buy them? They answer: “We don’t make a living, we are just saving the day…”

8 December 2020

Journalist Hacı Boğatekin acquitted

Journalist Hacı Boğatekin acquitted

Put on trial for calling on the government to come to terms with with Abdullah Öcalan in his Facebook posts, Gerger Fırat local newspaper’s owner Hacı Boğatekin has been acquitted of “terror propaganda” and “praising the crime and criminal.”

27 November 2020

Promises not kept, miners back on the march to Ankara

Promises not kept, miners back on the march to Ankara

Unable to get their severance pay and wages for months, even years now, the miners from Ermenek, Karaman have once again decided to march to the capital city in protest as the authorities have not kept their promises to the workers.

25 November 2020

Erdoğan’s son-in-law files a suit for damages against journalist

Erdoğan’s son-in-law files a suit for damages against journalist

Selçuk Bayraktar, the son-in-law of President and AKP Chair Erdoğan, and his Baykar Machine Industry company have filed a lawsuit against journalist-columnist Mustafa Sönmez over a single tweet from 2019, demanding 100 thousand TRY in damages.

12 November 2020

Prof. Korur-Fincancı: Overturn of acquittal intended to punish us

ÖZGÜR GÜNDEM NEWSPAPER TRIALS

Prof. Korur-Fincancı: Overturn of acquittal intended to punish us

Three rights defenders' acquittal in the case regarding a solidarity campaign for the now-closed Özgür Gündem newspaper has been overturned.

5 November 2020

Access to a report was blocked four hours after it was published; it was opened 95 days later

Access to a report was blocked four hours after it was published; it was opened 95 days later

A news report by a local outlet about an investigation against a university president for "misconduct" and forgery of documents" has been reopened to access.

4 November 2020

Journalist Hazal Ocak acquitted of ‘Son-in-law knows what to do’ news

Journalist Hazal Ocak acquitted of ‘Son-in-law knows what to do’ news

Standing trial over a news report regarding the land purchased by Finance Minister Albayrak near the planned route of Canal İstanbul, reporter Hazal Ocak from Cumhuriyet newspaper has been acquitted of “insulting a public official.”

27 October 2020

Investigation against journalist over social media post ends in non-prosecution

Investigation against journalist over social media post ends in non-prosecution

The Gerger Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has concluded that there is no need to prosecute local journalist Özgür Boğatekin over his Facebook posts where he shared the racist attack against seasonal agricultural workers in Sakarya province.

23 October 2020

'People didn't speak to the gendarmerie for the fear of the sect'

'People didn't speak to the gendarmerie for the fear of the sect'

The pro-government Menzil sect damaged the joint cemetery of three villages in the southeastern Adıyaman province.

20 October 2020

Villagers file complaint against pro-government 'Menzil' sect for damaging graves

Villagers file complaint against pro-government 'Menzil' sect for damaging graves

The sect allegedly damaged the cemetery of three villages during road expansion.

16 October 2020

Pro-government religious sect builds road through village cemetery

Pro-government religious sect builds road through village cemetery

The Menzil sect is "acting like a state" in Adıyaman, southeastern Turkey, say villagers whose graves have been damaged because of the road built by the sect.

15 October 2020

Another lawsuit filed against local journalist Özgür Boğatekin

Another lawsuit filed against local journalist Özgür Boğatekin

Several lawsuits were filed against Boğatekin over his news reports and social media posts.

14 October 2020

Prosecutor demands aggravated life sentence for Osman Kavala, Henri Barkey

Prosecutor demands aggravated life sentence for Osman Kavala, Henri Barkey

Kavala and Barkey have been charged with "political and military espionage" and "attempted overthrow."

Soma miners’ march to Ankara banned by governor’s office

Soma miners’ march to Ankara banned by governor’s office

“Commercial activities to be undertaken with the aim of getting economic benefits have been excluded from the ban. Thus, it is a decision that protects the employer while disregarding workers’ rights,” says Aksu from the Independent Mine Workers’ Union.

Journalists' dismissal from Hürriyet in European Commission report

Journalists' dismissal from Hürriyet in European Commission report

“Turkey 2020 Report” of the European Commission has referred to the dismissal of 45 journalists from daily Hürriyet for their trade union activities. Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS) İstanbul Chair Banu Tuna has commented on the report for bianet.

Subcontracted workers halt work at Turkey's state postal service

Subcontracted workers halt work at Turkey's state postal service

"This was a warning protest. We are preparing to halt work in entire İstanbul," a union representative has said.

An interest, exchange and tax income haven: Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs

COURT OF ACCOUNTS REPORT

An interest, exchange and tax income haven: Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs

According to the Court of Accounts, the Presidency of Religious Affairs spent over 10 billion TRY (~1 billion 300 million USD) in 2019 while it had a net income of 404 million 517 thousand TRY. Over 8 billion TRY was spent for personnel expenses.

'Local courts ignore Constitutional Court decisions against blocking access to news sites'

'Local courts ignore Constitutional Court decisions against blocking access to news sites'

The access block on Sendika.org has not been lifted by the local court despite two decisions by the Constitutional Court.

18 September 2020

'We will continue to write what they don't want to be revealed'

THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER CASE

'We will continue to write what they don't want to be revealed'

Six journalists will appear before the court today in the case over news reports about an MIT officer's death in Libya.

9 September 2020

Journalist Özgür Boğatekin probed over Facebook post against racist attack

Journalist Özgür Boğatekin probed over Facebook post against racist attack

Boğatekin has been summoned to the security directorate over a Facebook post where he criticized a racist attack against Kurdish workers.

8 September 2020

‘There cannot be democracy without press freedom’

5-DAY BLACKOUT ON TELE 1

‘There cannot be democracy without press freedom’

Journalism organizations denounce the five-day blackout imposed on TELE 1: “In our eyes, RTÜK is a political structure that has cut its ties with the institutionalization of a democratic society. There is no other solution than advising our colleagues to be careful.”

3 September 2020

Citizen of Kazakhstan to be paid damages due to maltreatment at removal center

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULING

Citizen of Kazakhstan to be paid damages due to maltreatment at removal center

A citizen of Kazakhstan had alleged that they were subjected to maltreatment and threats at a removal center.

3 September 2020

Arrested journalist Rawin Sterk released in his first hearing

Arrested journalist Rawin Sterk released in his first hearing

Detained while reporting on refugees in Edirne and arrested shortly afterwards, Rûdaw reporter Rawin Sterk has been released in his first hearing.

2 September 2020