RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 172

Retrial Request Submitted for Öcalan

Retrial Request Submitted for Öcalan

Abdullah Öcalan’s advocates submitted a request to court for their client’s retrial.

#Resist Press Freedom!

#Resist Press Freedom!

During the Gezi Resistance, 105 journalists have been assaulted, 28 detained and 2 sent to prison. Between April and June, 66 journalists and 27 publishers were behind bars in Turkey. 13 individuals (including 5 journalists) have been convicted of Anti-Terror Act-related sentence with a total of 67 years, 2 months and 7 days of prison as well as 6,600 euros fine.

24 July 2013 Emel Gülcan

“At Least 27 Authors, Poets, Translators, Publishers in Prison”

“At Least 27 Authors, Poets, Translators, Publishers in Prison”

Turkish Publishers Association released its report “Freedom to Publish Turkey” including right violations between June 2012 and 2013. “At least 27 authors, poets, translators, publishers are imprisoned in Turkey,” the report cited.

Journalist Bekir Coşkun Ordered to Pay 2,000 Euros

Journalist Bekir Coşkun Ordered to Pay 2,000 Euros

Cumhuriyet newspaper columnist Bekir Coşkun has been ordered to pay roughly 2,000 euros as non-pecuniary damages to PM Erdoğan for defamation due to his article entitled “The Big State Thing...”.

19 July 2013 Elif Akgül

Charges: Portraying Turkish State as Evil

Charges: Portraying Turkish State as Evil

Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court admitted the indictment on 22 advocates - a court file that included most of its evidences as anonymous word documents. One of the notable charges in the indictment listed: “Portraying the state as an entity that tortures its own citizens, confines and annihilates its prisoners”.

19 July 2013 Ayça Söylemez

Journalist Ahmet Altan Receives 11 Months of Prison

Journalist Ahmet Altan Receives 11 Months of Prison

Journalist Ahmet Altan received 11 months and 20 days of prison for insulting PM Erdoğan in his article “State Complicity and Morality”. While the sentence was commuted to a fine of 2,800 euros, Altan’s advocate found the verdict against European Convention on Human Rights.

18 July 2013 Ekin Karaca

Advocates Face “Telekinesis” Trial

Advocates Face “Telekinesis” Trial

Advocate Efkan Bolaç has been ordered to stand trial for “assaulting a police officer”, facing prison sentence up to 3 years. However, advocate Bolaç was under police detention at Istanbul Police Headquarters on the alleged date and time of assault charges.

18 July 2013 Ayça Söylemez

Another ECHR Verdict on Turkey’s Tear Gas Use

Another ECHR Verdict on Turkey’s Tear Gas Use

The European Court of Human Rights found Turkey guilty in the case of Abdullah Yaş - a protestor who was injured by police tear gas bombs in Diyarbakır in 2006. The Turkish state was ordered to pay 20,000 euros to the applicant.

“All Detainees Must Be Released”

“All Detainees Must Be Released”

Taksim Solidarity held a press conference this morning, urging the immediate release of their detained members. “It was the people who ensured the status of park as it is,” they said.

9 July 2013 Nilay Vardar

“It’s Been 20 Years, Our Wounds Still Open”

“It’s Been 20 Years, Our Wounds Still Open”

Thousands including family members, politicians and activists rallied in the central province of Sivas to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Sivas Masscare - the killing of dozens of Alevi intellectuals in Madımak Hotel arson incident.

Turkey to Pay 330,000 Euros for Extrajudicial Killings

Turkey to Pay 330,000 Euros for Extrajudicial Killings

ECHR reached a verdict on the case where 5 people ages between 13 and 24 were killed by soldiers, ordering Turkey to pay a sum of 330,000 euros to applicant families.

2 July 2013 Ayça Söylemez

HPG: Counter Forces Are Behind Attacks

HPG: Counter Forces Are Behind Attacks

HPG released a statement, saying that counter forces were behind yesterday’s attacks on civillians in Kanoğlu village located in the southeastern province of Dersim (Tunceli). “Counter forces are active in Tatvan and Hizan districts of Bitlis Province,” the statement said.

Istanbul Police Launches Investigation on Gezi Tweets

Istanbul Police Launches Investigation on Gezi Tweets

Police authorities in Istanbul have launched an investigation on 35 social media profiles for the defamation of state authorities including PM Erdoğan through messages and photos, submitting a detailed report to Prosecutor’s Office.

Witnesses Arrested, Detained in Ethem Sarısülük Case

Witnesses Arrested, Detained in Ethem Sarısülük Case

Mehmet Can Tayşan, an eye witness of Ethem Sarısülük shooting by police fire, has been detained. Şahin İmga, a prospective witness of Ethem Sarısülük case, has been arrested by a court.

26 June 2013 Ayça Söylemez

Police Torture on the Street!

Police Torture on the Street!

Hakan Yaman, a shuttle driver who lost his left eye, suffered from burns and had broken bones in his chin, malar, forehead, nose after police torture on the street, filed a lawsuit and submitted surveillance camera recordings of the incident.

Police Points Gun in Ankara Again

Police Points Gun in Ankara Again

Police allegedly pointed guns at civilians and were stopped during a raid in Ankara where 20 individuals were detained. In the southern province of Adana, 6 have been arrested for “participating protests through organizations broadcasting on internet”.

25 June 2013 Ayça Söylemez

“Court Disregarded Evidence!”

“Court Disregarded Evidence!”

Kazım Bayraktar, attorney of Ethem Sarısülük, claimed that the court did not arrest the policeman suspected of Sarısülük’s murder as it disregarded “expert and autopsy reports as well as surveillance camera recordings” and only decided upon police testimony.

25 June 2013 Ayça Söylemez

“We Worry that Police Violence Might Go Unpunished”

“We Worry that Police Violence Might Go Unpunished”

During the Gezi Resistance across Turkey, police violence left 4 protestors dead and 7,882 injured with 59 gravely injured. 71 demonstrators have been arrested for “public property damage”. Advocate Efkan Bolaç informed that no violent perpetrator police officers (except one) have yet to be arrested or prosecuted.

24 June 2013 Ayça Söylemez

7 Freed Pending Trial in KCK Lawyers Case

7 Freed Pending Trial in KCK Lawyers Case

Advocates Serkan Akbaş, Mizgin Irgat, Mehmet Ayata, Mensur Işık, Şakir Demir, Servet Demir and Mehmet Deniz Büyük were released pending a trial in Istanbul’s 2nd KCK trial.

Ersin Yolcu Sent to Prison

Ersin Yolcu Sent to Prison

Ersin Yolcu, one of Hrant Dink murder convicts who was sentenced to 12.5 years of prison, has been arrested and sent to prison. Previously, Supreme Court of Appeals overthrew a court’s acquittal decision on “organized crime” charges.

450 Missing, 169 Detained in Istanbul

450 Missing, 169 Detained in Istanbul

Following police attacks, Istanbul’s crisis desk received 450 missing and detention applications. At the moment, 169 individuals are still waiting in Istanbul’s Police Headquarters. The detention tolls are 116 in Ankara and approximately 30 in Eskişehir.

17 June 2013 Ayça Söylemez

Abdullah Öcalan: I Have 50 Percent Hope

Abdullah Öcalan: I Have 50 Percent Hope

“The first step of the process is over, even though some of my demands have not been realized. We are transitioning to the second step. I have 50 percent hope,” PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan said to his brother Mehmet Öcalan on a visit in Imrali Island.

RTÜK Fines TV Networks on Gezi Resistance Coverage

RTÜK Fines TV Networks on Gezi Resistance Coverage

Turkey's High Council of Radio and Television (RTÜK) issued fines and warnings on Halk TV, Ulusal TV, Cem TV and EM TV - television networks that prominently broadcasted on Gezi Resistance.

Lawyers Protest Police Violence

Lawyers Protest Police Violence

Thousands of lawyers from bar associations across 12 cities have protested yesterday’s detention and beating of 44 lawyers in Istanbul Courthouse.

The Moment That Humanity Ended

The Moment That Humanity Ended

A disable protestor in wheelchair found himself in a tear gas cloud during Gezi Park protests in Taksim Square last night. Turkish flag in his hand, the protestor was subjected to water cannon spraying.

“State of Emergency” Application to ECHR

“State of Emergency” Application to ECHR

Human Right Association of Turkey (IHD) urged all police violence victims of Gezi Park resistance to file complaints to be brought to the attention of the European Court of Human Rights according to the “state of emergency” exception in the convention.

6 June 2013 Ayça Söylemez

“Yield to Ambulance” Tweet Faces Prosecution in Turkey

“Yield to Ambulance” Tweet Faces Prosecution in Turkey

38 individuals faced prosecution in the western city of Izmir for “encouraging to rebellion and violating laws” due to their tweet messages.

5 June 2013 Ayça Söylemez

“Police Attacked Infirmary in Ankara”

“Police Attacked Infirmary in Ankara”

Contemporary Lawyers Association claimed that Gezi Park resistance detainees in Ankara became subjected to injustice and were not allowed to meet attorneys and doctors for hours.

Clashes in Roboski

Clashes in Roboski

Early this morning, Turkish Armed Forces and PKK have engaged in a series of clashes outside the southeastern border village of Roboski.

Pepper Gas Intervention in "Return to Life" Case Hearing

Pepper Gas Intervention in "Return to Life" Case Hearing

Gendarmerie forces intervened a discussion between police officers and family members of defendants who are standing trial over the Operation “Return to Life” at Ümraniye Prison, spraying pepper gas and locking family members down in the courtroom.

28 May 2013 Ayça Söylemez

“Lightbulb Tayyip” Slogan Sued Again

“Lightbulb Tayyip” Slogan Sued Again

17 individuals including 15 high school students in the northwestern province of Bursa have been sued over shouting the slogan “Lightbulb Tayyip” to protest the exam system.

Yaşar Kemal: I Wish Turkey Would Be Like My Village

Yaşar Kemal: I Wish Turkey Would Be Like My Village

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a park and culture house dedicated to his name in his native Hemite village, author Yaşar Kemal reminded that he was never discriminated in his village due to his Kurdish ethnicity and wished “Turkey to be like his village”.