In 2012, bianet gave voice to voiceless in thousands of features, articles, newsletters and campaigns.
In 2012, bianet published several features that encouraged countrywide discussions including the abortion right, jailed journalists/students, maternal language rights, land mines and Roboski Massacre.
Jailed journalists told bianet about their "crimes"
In early 2012, bianet wrote letters to a dozen of jailed journalists from Turkey. In return, jailed journalists told bianet about their alleged "crimes" and their prison experience from detention to correction facilities. While 12 out of 17 letter recipients were released by the end of the year, 67 journalists are still jailed in Turkey.
20 articles from 20 different maternal languages
On February 21, World Maternal Language Day, bianet published 20 articles each written by an individual speaking one of Turkey's 20 different languages. Some of the writers said "I can read in my mother tongue but can't write", while others said "I might have grammatical errors". We didn't mind. Wasn't expressing oneself in mother tongue anyway the whole purpose? Remembering Turkey's forgotten languages and alphabets. At the end of the day, bianet became the platform for gypsy language to Ossetian and many others.
Roboski Massacre in 34 letters
Justice to Roboski Platform wrote for bianet 34 stories on the lives of 34 victims. Each day, bianet published 34 letters starting with "I am Encü..."
bianet launched campaign against land mines
On April 4, International Land Mine Awareness Day, bianet launched its "Lend Your Leg" campaign against land mines. bianet staff contributed with the photos of their un-sleeved legs.
"My body my decision" campaign against new abortion bill
bianet staff--both men and women--launched a campaign in May against the government's new abortion regulation bill which de facto banned the practice. bianet initiated a platform where men and women could share their photos with their message in their preferred language under the "my body my decision" slogan.
Hundreds of protestors from all over the world contributed to the campaign with their photos and even blocked our website due to excessive loading. bianet staff spent sleepless nights to upload the never-ending content. The campaign mission accomplished with the government backtracking on the bill.
Letters from unknown students
They were charged with demanding free education, wearing a Palestine scarf and dancing "ideologically". Jailed students of Turkey sent out letters while they were studying for their exams in prison. bianet published these letters in collaboration with Jailed Journalists Solidarity Initiative. Like jailed journalists, jailed students told bianet about their alleged "crimes". Unfortunately, hundreds of students entered 2013 in prison with their right to education abused.
Jailed journalists and Impunity
They always felt nervous while they were out in the field. They could have been kidnapped, vanished or killed. They always received death threats, notes saying that "their pencils will be broken". They were many times told to "yield in". They didn't. And they were murdered. On November 19, bianet has kicked off the "Murdered Journalists and Impunity", a series telling the real stories of Turkey's 20 murdered journalists through the narratives of their families, friends and lawyers.
Sisterhood of soup recipes during the cold winter days
We wanted to bring light and warmth to winter days, and published various coup recipes from different Anatolian cultures. From Roma people's "Kitlik" soup to "Gabula" of the Assyrians, we published dozens of yummy recipes.
Southeastern region through the eyes of child photographers
59 children from southeastern region provinces including Şırnak, Batman, Van, Mardin and Yüksekova told bianet their stories and surroundings through photographs. Bianet feature included photo stories both in Turkish and Kurdish from neighborhood market, village weddings and cheese making. (NV)
