RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 181

“We Did Not Ask for Alevi Courses”

“We Did Not Ask for Alevi Courses”

Prominent representatives of Turkey’s Alevi minority sharply criticized the government’s move to include elective courses on the Alevi faith in school curricula as part of the new controversial education reform bill.

15 June 2012 Nilay Vardar

“Turkey Took No Heed of European Court’s Verdict”

“Turkey Took No Heed of European Court’s Verdict”

Turkey failed to take any concrete steps to execute the verdict passed by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, case lawyer Fethiye Çetin told the Committe of Ministers of the Council of Europe in a letter.

Court Rules to Annul Project to “Transform” Historical Roma District

Court Rules to Annul Project to “Transform” Historical Roma District

A court ruled to annul the preliminary project to demolish Istanbul’s historical Sulukule district inhabited mainly by the Roma community and to replace it with new villas as part of the government’s “Urban Transformation” scheme.

13 June 2012 Nilay Vardar

Independent deputy Aysel Tuğluk sentenced to 14.5 years behind bars

Independent deputy Aysel Tuğluk sentenced to 14.5 years behind bars

A court sentenced Aysel Tuğluk, an independent deputy from the eastern province of Van and the co-chair of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK,) to 14 years and seven months in prison on terrorism related charges.

Cologne to Count as a “Weapon” Before the Eyes of Law

Cologne to Count as a “Weapon” Before the Eyes of Law

The “People’s Law Office” (“Halkın Hukuk Bürosu”) has cautioned that the amendments to the Turkish Penal Code proposed in the third judicial package pending in Parliament will widen the scope of the definition of “weapons” to include deodorants and cologne while increasing penalties for using illegal electricity and water.

12 June 2012 Ayça Söylemez

Van Mayor Bekir Kaya Arrested

Van Mayor Bekir Kaya Arrested

Law enforcement officials arrested Bekir Kaya, the mayor of the eastern province of Van, and nine other members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) as part of the probe into the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK,) as hundreds gathered before the courthouse to protest the decision.

Deputy Kürkçü: “Another Bureaucratic Office Is In the Works”

Deputy Kürkçü: “Another Bureaucratic Office Is In the Works”

The new Human Rights Institution Draft Law leaves the business of monitoring human rights violations committed by the state to another structure that is also under the control of the state and the government, according to Ertuğrul Kürkçü, the Mersin deputy of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP.)

8 June 2012 Ayça Söylemez

Police Detains Van Mayor

Police Detains Van Mayor

Law enforcement officials took Bekir Kaya, the mayor of the southeastern province of Van, and five other district mayors under custody today, as well as 10 members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) as part of the probe into the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK.)

Students sentenced to 8.5 years for unfurling banner

Students sentenced to 8.5 years for unfurling banner

A court sentenced university students Ferhat Tüzer and Berna Yılmaz to eight years and five months in prison on terrorism related charges due to a banner they unfurled during a speech by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, while Utku Aykar, another university student, also received two years and two months of imprisonment.

7 June 2012 Ayça Söylemez

“All Journalists Here Are Witnesses”

“All Journalists Here Are Witnesses”

Journalists attested for their imprisoned colleagues Çağdaş Kaplan, Mustafa Balbay, Naciye Yavuz, Ömer Faruk Çalışkan and Sultan Şaman as part of the “Witness Days” initiated by the Freedom for Journalists Platform (GÖP.)

6 June 2012 Nilay Vardar

ECHR Convicts Turkey On Rights Abuse In Military

ECHR Convicts Turkey On Rights Abuse In Military

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) sentenced Turkey to pay a fine in the amount of 17,500 euros on the charge of violating the rights of freedom and security in the case of four specialists sergeants who were placed under chamber arrest.

“Guilty Until Proven Innocent!”

“Guilty Until Proven Innocent!”

The report entitled “Human Rights Defenders: Guilty Until Proven Innocent” prepared by the International Human Rights Federation (FDIH) and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) received its first promotion in Turkey on Tuesday at the general headquarters of the Human Rights Association (IHD.)

6 June 2012 Serhat Korkmaz

New Steel Batons on the Way

New Steel Batons on the Way

6.000 new portable batons are ordered. They are ‘easy to carry and use’ and just 20 cm when folded.

‘Google’ Blocking at Schools

‘Google’ Blocking at Schools

Teachers faced with ‘ Access to this site has been blocked by Turkish Telecom with the request of Ministery of Education because of its objectionable content’ message when tried to open Google.

“Promised Legal Reforms did not Occur in Turkey”

“Promised Legal Reforms did not Occur in Turkey”

“Promised constitutional and other legal reforms did not occur. Instead, the right to freedom of expression was threatened and protesters faced increased police violence” cites Amnesty International Report in the section about Turkey.

Repealing the Statute of Limitations for Torture

Repealing the Statute of Limitations for Torture

The fourth judicial reform package repeals the statute of limitations on torture cases changes the regulation on prosecution of public officials accused of killing or wounding people.

"Council of State's Verdict is a Limitation to Press Freedom”

"Council of State's Verdict is a Limitation to Press Freedom”

“Using the word 'guerilla' is not a crime" said Gunaydın, reminding the ECHR case law.

“She Was Supposed to Be a Journalist, Not a Prisoner”

“She Was Supposed to Be a Journalist, Not a Prisoner”

Emine would be graduated as a journalist a year later, however she’s been in jail for nine months, like hundreds of other arrested students.

23 May 2012 Ayça Söylemez

Demokratik Vatan Newspaper Banned for 1 Month

Demokratik Vatan Newspaper Banned for 1 Month

Istanbul 9. High Criminal Court decided for a 1-month ban of weekly Demokratik Vatan newspaper.

14 More Conscientious Objectors

14 More Conscientious Objectors

At the end of Conscientious Objection Week, 14 people declared their conscientious objections following the march from Tünel to Taksim Square.

Chain of Conscience for Workplace Murders

Chain of Conscience for Workplace Murders

The families who lost their relatives in work accidents will gather together each week. They say, “We call this as “workplace murders” not “work accidents” and we know the perpetrators; enough is enough!”

22 May 2012 Nilay Vardar

Circassians Ask for Recognition of the Circassian Genocide

Circassians Ask for Recognition of the Circassian Genocide

Circassian in Turkey marched to the Russian Consulate building and asked for the recognition of the Circassian Genocide occurred 148 years ago on May 21, 1864.

21 May 2012 Nilay Vardar

Court Decree Without Lawyer

Court Decree Without Lawyer

“Lawyers sometimes do not attend to the court hearings in order to prevent the court’s decision however the court violates the right to defense by not collecting defense evidences” told Lawyer Cinmen.

20 May 2012 Ekin Karaca

Discussions on U.S. Intelligence

Discussions on U.S. Intelligence

Following the Roboski Massacre news of WSJ, Head of Uludere sub-commission Üstün (AKP), Deputy Prime Minister Bozdağ, Güler and Gök (CHP) made statements.

Support for Arrested KESK Women

Support for Arrested KESK Women

Women board members of the Ankara University Political Science Alumni Association visited KESK women at Sincan L Type Prison.

17 May 2012 Burcu Ballıktaş

"We Need Specially Authorized Prosecutors”

"We Need Specially Authorized Prosecutors”

Malatya Chief Public Prosecutor Office demanded specially authorized prosecutors from HCJP. There are 1500 files waiting at the prosecution office.

17 May 2012 Ayça Söylemez

Roboski Massacre Tied to U.S. Drone

Roboski Massacre Tied to U.S. Drone

According to an article published in WSJ, a U.S. drone flew away to spot some images just before the Roboski massacre.

Rum Citizens Considered Foreigner in Land Posession

Rum Citizens Considered Foreigner in Land Posession

When a local Rum inhabitant of Gökçeada wanted to buy a property in the Island she was told that the "procedure was long" but that if she bought it in the name of her husband-to-be procedures would be completed immediately.

16 May 2012 Yüce Yöney

"2221 ‘Suicides’ of Soldiers in 22 Years”

"2221 ‘Suicides’ of Soldiers in 22 Years”

National Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz announced that a total of 2221 soldiers “died of suicide” throughout the past 22 years.

Torture "Revealed" at Metris Prison

Torture "Revealed" at Metris Prison

An inmate from Engin Çeber’s ward described how Çeber was beaten. “The second prison warden told ‘You’ll be punished like him if you do not stand up for roll call’ while he was beating him.”

Impressions of Silivri Prison by "Mr. Z"

Impressions of Silivri Prison by "Mr. Z"

Following Silivri Prison visit of the journalists with Minister of Justice, we talked to Mr. Z who had been the guest of prison for long years. He doesn’t agree that the prison food is of good quality.

15 May 2012 Ekin Karaca

Turkey Ranks First in Violations in between 1959-2011

Turkey Ranks First in Violations in between 1959-2011

Turkey ranks first among the number of countries convicted for rights violations by the European Court of Human Rights in between 1959-2011.