Turkish writer Asiye Zeybek was raped by policemen - yet it is she who faces prison. And her case is the tip of the iceberg, says Joan Smith of The Guardian in her column on Sep.17 issue of the British daily.

Swedish PEN decides to grant the 2001 Tulchovsky Award to imprisoned Turkish journalist Asiye Zeybek Guzel. A Swedish PEN delegation attends Guzels trial on Friday.

Demographic growth in the Middle East and scarcity of resources; terrorism and extremism; drug trade; rogue states; emergence of new regional powers; cyberwar; and the increased organised crime should be considered in the new security concepts.

Human Rights Association (IHD) warns that landmines laid down in Southeast during the conflict between the army and the guerilla PKK continue explode. Previously depopulated locals are yet fearful to return home of the risks posed by landmines.

Rapporters Sans Frontieres denounces violations against journalists. There is a constant gap between Turkeys promises and the practices of its police forces, stated Robert Ménard, the organisations secretary-general.

Although virtually unnoticed by the outside world, since last autumn Turkey has been the site of the longest -- and now the deadliest -- hunger strike against a government in modern history.

Journalist Celal Baslangic faces 1-6 years for his collection of articles Temple of Fear, previously published by Istanbul daily Radikal. Documenting ordinary human tragedies in Southeast none of the articles were banned when published in the daily.

Professor Fikret Baskaya is now a case in point himself; he has fallen victim to the very mindset he has criticized. He has been sent to jail to serve a 16-month term under Article 8 of Turkeys Anti-Terror legislation.

Ankaras political and military rulers expect that a Turkish military presence in Afghanistan will indirectly provide the country with a wider margin of maneuver and a greater say in the prospective reshaping of the region,

Korku Tapinagi (Temple of Fear), collection of stories from the Southeast war zone by journalist Celal Baslangic is banned under charges of insulting the military. Baslangic is faced with 1-6 years in prison if found guilty by the court.

The exhibition stretches over three floors and explores the cultural heritage of Turkish Jews over the passed seven centuries starting from the Ottoman conquest of Bursa in 1326. A large number of these Sephardic Jews found refugee in the Ottoman Empire.

Pro-Kurdish HADEP calmly reacts against recent reports of militarys concerns of their increasing support in the Southeast. We are a guarantee for the countrys porgress to democracy, says deputy-chair Osman Ozcelik.