Dissident Journalist Imprisoned w/o Evidence

Editor-in-chief of Guney magazine Mehmet Bakırs prison sentence is approbated by the High Court despite harsh criticism by human rights groups. AI, IHD, ÇGD, TİHV and Initiative for Association of 78s called for action against this legal scandal.

Erol Önderoğlu

International press cardholder journalist and editor-in-chief of "Güney" magazine Mehmet Bakır goes today to serve a two and-a-half-year prison sentence handed town with regard to now abolished article 7 of the Prevention of Terrorism Law (TMY).

He's convicted with seven others, of being a member and/or supporting the "illegal Bolshevik Party North Kurdistan/Turkey" organization.

Human rights groups criticized the Supreme Court of Appeals decision to approbate the local court ruling.

They claim that lack of any concrete evidence against Bakır as well as a reasoned decision by the Supreme Court amounts to a "legal scandal".

Amnesty International (AI) issued an alert, calling for solidarity with Bakır while Human Rights Association (İHD), Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇGD) and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) declared their deprecation of the trial process.

Despite the counterview of the prosecution, Bakır was condemned by İzmir 8th High Criminal Court to a prison sentence as well as a fine and a ban from public duty and leave of country, on March 16, 2006.

Article 7 of the notorious TMY, which was used to suppress dissident voices since it came into effect in 1991, has been abolished in July 2006 as a part od the reform process for Turkey's bid to join the EU.

Lawyers say Bakır and his codefendants were condemned of "moral duress", a term that doesn't comply with contemporary principles of law.

"This case shows once again that despite all reforms, expression of dissident opinions are evaluated as terrorism in this country", Initiative for Association of 78s said in an announcement.(EO/EU)

Origin

BÄ°A News Center

Erol Önderoğlu

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A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without...

A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), where he began as a reporter in 1996. Since 1999, he has worked at bianet, a project of the IPS Communication Foundation, as the coordinator of the Legal Support Desk, editor for freedom of expression, and editor-in-chief. He has authored more than 4,800 signed news articles and opinion pieces. He has also written for Bizim Gazete and the journal Güncel Hukuk. He currently prepares the Media Monitoring Reports at bianet.