NEWS - Bianet

NEWS

Page 315

Health Workers Protest Draft Legislation

Health care workers protested against the draft legislation that would harm employees personal rights. Government wants to liberalize the health sector by introducing concurrence and liabilities for individual health care workers.

31 January 2007

Womens Film Festival Sets Off

International Filmmor Womens Film Festival will be held for the fifth time between March 10 and 18, in Istanbul. This years main theme is revealed as Honour. A special section on womens films from Canada will feature on the programme.

31 January 2007

ECHR Rules For Stability

The Strasbourg court decides that the 10 percent electoral threshold in Turkey doesnt constiute a violation of free expression of the opinion of the people. Yet, ruling AKP got 66 percent of seats in the assembly by only 34 percent of the vote in 2002.

31 January 2007

Convicted Journalist Released After 5 Years

Journalist Memik Horuz says recent improvements in maximum security F-type facilities hadnt come into effect. He was released from Bolu F-type facility as he fulfills his five year sentence for being a member of an illegal leftist organization.

31 January 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Reactions to Hrant Dink Killing

PressNow and Caucasus Media Institute condemn the killing of Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink in seperate statements. Both organizations voice hopes for changes in Turkish penal system and safe and free discussion on the Armenian genocide issues.

31 January 2007

Attraction of Turkish Presidency: Omnipotency

Recent discussions on the presidential office have concentrated on candidates rather than the powers the constitution invests in the office. The 1982 constitutions articles designed for the coup leader General Evren have not been changed until today.

30 January 2007 Tolga Korkut

AI Condemns Hrant Dink Killing

Amnesty International called on Turkish authorities for an impatial investigation into writer Hrant Dinks murder and to condemn all forms of intolerance. He was targeted because of his work as a journalist who championed freedom of expression, AI said.

29 January 2007

RSF and PEN Statements on Dink Murder

Reporters Sans Frontiers and International PEN condemn Hrant Dink murder and called on Turkish authorities to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. Hrant Dink was well known to PEN members throughout the world and had received many awards.

29 January 2007

Nationalists Surface After Dinks Funeral

Thousands marched in assassinated Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dinks funeral. Nationalist and racist reaction rises following chanted slogans Were all Armenians. Debate on article 301 continues as five suspects get arrested on the case.

29 January 2007 Erhan Üstündağ

Conscientious Objector at Legal Loophole

Conscientious objector Halil Savda is released today by the Corlu Martial Court only to be recruited at the barracks. Hes tried with disobedience to orders with intention of avoiding military duty. Legal loophole prevents a definitive result.

25 January 2007

Dinks Case Would Continue in ECHR

Assassinated Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dinks appeal at the ECHR will perpetuate, says his lawyers. Dink was condemned to deferred 6 months in prison for insulting Turkishness. He had applied to ECHR ahen the Supreme Court rejected his appeal.

25 January 2007 Tolga Korkut

Turco-Greek Peace Broker Ismail Cem Dies

One of the longest serving Minister of Foreign Affairs, İsmail Cem dies at the age of 67. During his term Cem managed to ease decades long hostilities with Greece and enforced Turkeys bid to join the EU. Hell be said farewell on Friday.

24 January 2007

Do We Need a Murder for Each Reform?

While marching with thousands behind Hrant Dinks coffin, Prof. Insel, lawyers Pekin and Tanrıkulu, journalists Duran and Köhne and musician Akın all agree that the reforms only come after intellectuals pay the heavy price. Now its article 301 on the row.

24 January 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Police Protection to Seven Writers

Police department declares that personal protection is assigned to seven writers and journalists who receive threats. The enforcement comes following Turkish-Armenian writer Dinks assassination last Friday. Police was criticized for lack of protection.

24 January 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Threatening E-mail to Agos Newspaper

Assasinated Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dinks newspaper Agos receives an e-mail threat signed as TIT. Newspapers lawyer Çetin says that they filed a complaint about the threat and wont be intimidated by such efforts.

24 January 2007

Wars Destruction in the Middle East

The ongoing World Social Forum witnesses numerous assemblies on environmental issues in an unprecedented manner. Statistics show Israeli and US agression in Middle East deprived millions from healthy lives by destroying food sources.

24 January 2007 Çiğdem Mater

Hrant Dink: Requiem to a Lesser Turkey

It is a true pity that we have lost a lightening rod against fanaticism of all kinds and a true patriot who believed and preached that without love of the citizen; love of the country is a guise for discrimination and ideological tyranny.

23 January 2007 Doğu Ergil

Thousands Attend Hrant Dinks Funeral

Tens of thousands of people attend Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dinks funeral. Dink was assassinated last Friday. The fisrt ceremony was held in front of the offices of Agos newspaper which Dink founded. Funeral continues at St. Maria Church.

23 January 2007

Rakel Dinks Letter to the Loved One

Rakel Dink reads her letter to the thousands that gathered to salute Hrant Dink for one last time: You left your loved ones, your children, your grand children. You left these people who salute you here; you left my arms. You didnt leave your country.

23 January 2007 Rakel Dink

Hrant Dink Killing Suspect Caught

Prosecution released the CCTV footage of a young man running away from the crime scene and his own father identified Ogun Samast as Turkish-Armenian writer Dinks assassin. Samast has been taken under custody while trying to reach his hometown Trabzon.

22 January 2007

A Doves Skittishness in My Soul

Yes, I can feel myself as restless as a dove but I know that in this country people do not touch and disturb the doves. The doves continue their lives in the middle of the cities.Yes indeed a bit frightened but at the same time free.

22 January 2007 Hrant Dink

Death of the Journalist

The establishment rendered it probable and a boy with nothing to loose realized the unthinkable. Once again, the myth of tolerance is crushed with Hrant Dinks death. Nobody tolerates others anymore on this land.

22 January 2007 Erhan Üstündağ

Retrospective On Trials Against Hrant Dink

This is a compilation of news articles that appeared on bianets English site regarding trials and prosecutions against prominent ethnic Armenian writer and journalist Hrant Dink. Dink has been assasinated today in front of Agos newspaper that he founded.

19 January 2007

Ethnic Armenian Writer Hrant Dink Assasinated

Prominent Turkish-Armenian writer and journalist Hrant Dink has been shot dead today while he was leaving the offices of the newspaper Agos which he founded and worked. He was subjected to criticism and harrasement by nationalists.

19 January 2007

Magazine Banned on Religious Rudiment

Reporters Sans Frontiers criticized the ban on the last issue of Historia Thematique magazine, devoted to fundementalist political movements, in Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia. An alleged photograph of Prophet Mohammed is grounds for the prohibition.

17 January 2007

PM Continues Sueing Journalists

PM Erdogan files another case against Tuncay Ozkan, claiming Ozkan insulted him during a programme broadcasted January 7. Two other cases brought to court by PMs lawyers against Ozkan are still pending. On another account journalist Babahan is acquitted.

17 January 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

bianet Reporter Orer Receives The CGD Journalism Award

Ayca Orer of bianet is awarded the journalist of the year in Internet category by the Contemporary Journalists Association. Orer's article on the medias one-sided coverage of security forces operation into prison facilites brought her the award.

17 January 2007

Minorities Reclame Confiscated Properties

ECHR sentences Turkey to damages amounting to 890 000 euros for unlawfully confiscating properties of a trust founded by non-muslim minority. Lawyer Hatemi says the government should stop discriminating among citizens or similar cases are pending.

15 January 2007 Tolga Korkut

Joint Call for Dialogue on Kurdish Conflict

Writer Kemal emphasized the historical bonds between Turks and Kurds in his opening speech of the two-day conference on Kurdish conflict. 500 academics, journalists and politicians gathered for a debate for a peaceful solution to the years long conflict.

15 January 2007 İrfan Aktan

HRW: Government Reluctant on Rights in 2006

HRW releases its world report 2007: The Turkish government didnt push forward with reforms that would enhance human rights in the country. The establishment resists reforms while rights activists continue facing difficulties, the organization said.

15 January 2007

Energy Privatization Schemes Postponed

The government postpones the privatization of electrical distribution infrastructures dueb to worries that it would cost them dearly in coming elections. Chamber of Electrical Engineers campaigns for a total policy change from privatization.

10 January 2007

Investigation into Prison Bloodshed

Regional administrative court gives way, after six years, for an investigation into the operation into prison facilities which left 32 people dead. Repercussions of the operation still continue, as lawyer Asci remains in hunger strike.

10 January 2007