Radio Journalist Charged for Prison Stories

Karakurt, the former manager of the Anatolias Voice radio, who broadcasted programs about the operations at the F-type and Ulucanlar prisons, was acquitted. But a prosecutor appealed the verdict saying he should be sentenced for dangerous incitement.

Erol Önderoğlu

The prosecutor of the Istanbul State Security Court appealed a verdict by a lower court to acquit Seyfullah Karakurt, the top manager of the radio station, "Anatolia's Voice." Karakurt had been charged because of programs about the prison operations in Turkey.

The prosecutor said Karakurt, through those programs, "incited hatred and enmity and could cause clashes among people."

Karakurt had faced one to three years in prison. The prosecutor wanted him to be charged based on law no:312 of the Turkish Penal Code six times.

Karakurt was charged for broadcasting programs in the years 2000 and 2001 about operations at Turkish prisons and developments at the maximum-security F type prisons.

Turkish security forces in 1999 had stormed the prisons when inmates began protesting a government move to transfer them from large wards to smaller, maximum-security F type prisons.

The court, on February 25, 2003, acquitted Karakurt and former program host Selda Demir, who were both charged with "aiding and abetting an illegal organization."

The journalists were then charged for broadcasting programs about the operations to F-type prisons and Ulucanlar Prison. The charges were based on grounds of law no: 169 of the Turkish Penal Code. The prosecutors at the Istanbul State Security Court had advised the judge to acquit Karakurt and

Demir. (EO/BB/EA/NM)

Origin

BÄ°A News Center

Erol Önderoğlu

[email protected]

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İstanbul Üniversitesi Fransız Filolojisi Bölümü'nden mezun. 1996'da muhabiri olduğu uluslararası Sınır Tanımayan Gazeteciler (RSF) örgütünün Türkiye temsilcisi olarak çalışıyor. 1999'dan beri İPS İletişim Vakfı'nın projesi olan bianet sitesinde, Hukuki Destek Masası koordinatörü, ifade özgürlüğü editörü ve yayın yönetmeni olarak çalıştı. 4.800'den fazla imzalı haber ve makalesi bulunuyor. Bizim Gazete ve Güncel Hukuk dergisi için haber ve makaleler yazdı. Halen bianet'te Medya Gözlem Raporları'nı hazırlıyor.