RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 184

Turkey Human Rights Institute Must be Autonomous

Turkey Human Rights Institute Must be Autonomous

Five human rights organizations criticized the draft bill regarding the Law on the Human Rights Institute of Turkey submitted to parliament. They stressed that a human rights institute formed without the contribution of the civil society and controlled by the state was meaningless.

"I Haven't Seen Such Violence since Vietnam Protests"

"I Haven't Seen Such Violence since Vietnam Protests"

A delegation of Swedish politicians and human rights advocates came to Turkey to visit political women prisoners. They attended the Newroz celebrations and criticized the excessive use of violence and tear gas by the police. In an interview with bianet, they also gave their opinion about Turkish politics and the country's EU accession.

26 March 2012 Çiçek Tahaoğlu

Publication Ban for Özgür Gündem Newspaper

Publication Ban for Özgür Gündem Newspaper

The publication of the Özgür Gündem newspaper was suspended for one month. The Gün Printing Company was raided by the police and the Sunday's issue of the newspaper was confiscated.

Searching for "Nameless Students"

Searching for "Nameless Students"

The Initiative for Solidarity with Arrested Students published the "Map of Unnamed Students" of Turkey in order to communicate judicial and administrative rights violations faced by students. The map also intends to follow up the situation of arrested students.

Student Cihan Kırmızıgül Released

Student Cihan Kırmızıgül Released

Student Kırmızıgül was released pending trial after 25 months behind bars. He stands accused of "membership in an illegal organization" because he was wearing a keffiyeh.

Threat to Human Rights Association - Website Hacked

Threat to Human Rights Association - Website Hacked

The website of the Human Rights Foundation has been hacked. The attackers threatened the organization saying "One night we might suddenly come".

Sentence for Ogün Samast Approved

Sentence for Ogün Samast Approved

The Court of Appeals approved the prison sentence of 22 years and 10 months handed down to Ogün Samast, murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Samast was sentenced on charges of "premeditated murder" and "unlicensed possession of weapons".

Erdoğan Scolds Media: 'Are You Deaf?'

Erdoğan Scolds Media: 'Are You Deaf?'

At a meeting of the AKP Faction, Prime Minister Erdoğan made statements about this year's Newroz celebrations and the government's new regulations for relatives of "martyrs" with reference to the recent helicopter crash in Afghanistan. A side blow also went to the media.

7 Alleged RedHack Members Arrested

7 Alleged RedHack Members Arrested

Seven people were arrested because of their alleged membership in the RedHack group. RedHack commented, "The arrested people are not our members." and announced to proceed more radical from now on.

Turkey "Country of Particular Concern" for Religious Freedom

Turkey "Country of Particular Concern" for Religious Freedom

According to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Turkey is among the 16 countries of particular concern regarding religious freedom. Other countries in the same category are e.g. Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.

21 March 2012 Ekin Karaca

"Borders are the Actual Problem"

"Borders are the Actual Problem"

The Immigrant Solidarity Network and international non-governmental organizations went to the immigration centre in Edirne after the four-day "Transborder Conference" to demand "the right to free movement and a world without borders".

21 March 2012 Ekin Karaca

Newroz Came with Tear Gas and Police Violence

Newroz Came with Tear Gas and Police Violence

BDP Deputy Ertuğrul Kürkçü talked to bianet about the massive police intervention against the Newroz celebrations in Mersin. Kurdish politician Ahmet Türk was beaten by the police in Batman and underwent medical treatment.

21 March 2012 Işıl Cinmen,Yüce Yöney

Police Officers Posed with Murderer Samast after Offence

Police Officers Posed with Murderer Samast after Offence

Police officer Yakup Kurtan who had his picture taken with Ogün Samast, murderer of Turkish-Armenian journalists Hrant Dink, holding the Turkish flag after the offence was promoted to Deputy Chief of the Malatya Police.

Academic Ersanlı Alleged of Being KCK Executive

Academic Ersanlı Alleged of Being KCK Executive

According to the indictment of the trial related to the Union of Kurdish Communities prepared by Prosecutor Çimen, Prof Ersanlı is facing imprisonment of 22.5 years on charges of leadership of an illegal organization. Nobel Peace candidate Zarakolu is facing 15 years in jail.

RedHack: "We are on the Job"

RedHack: "We are on the Job"

17 people were taken into custody in the scope of the probe into RedHack, the hackers group that seized and published data from the Ankara Police Directorate and POLNET. RedHack told bianet that none of the persons in custody were members of their group.

20 March 2012 Serhat Korkmaz

Ahmet Şık Facing New Investigation

Ahmet Şık Facing New Investigation

Journalist Ahmet Şık is facing an investigation on the grounds of his statements made to the press when he was released from prison after 375 days in detention. He is alleged of having identified judges and prosecutors as a target.

104 Journalists and 35 Distributors in Prison

104 Journalists and 35 Distributors in Prison

After the release of journalists Şık, Şener, Musluk and Çakır, there are still 104 journalists and 35 newspaper distributors in Turkish prisons. 74 out of 104 journalists and the entire number of distributors are form Kurdish media outlets.

19 March 2012 Emel Gülcan

Millions Want Justice

Millions Want Justice

Political parties, trade unions and other organizations founded the "Millions Want Justice" initiative. They pursue the removal of the Anti-Terror Law and the Special Authority Courts that are being used by the AKP government to silence the opposition, they claim.

19 March 2012 Nilay Vardar

RSF Urges Syrian Authorities for Release of Turkish Journalists

RSF Urges Syrian Authorities for Release of Turkish Journalists

Reporters Without Borders called on the Syrian authorities to release Turkish journalists Özköse and Çoşkun who went to Syria last week. Both journalists were abducted and reportedly handed over to Syrian authorities.

BDP Executive Dies from Gas Bomb during Newroz 'Celebrations'

BDP Executive Dies from Gas Bomb during Newroz 'Celebrations'

BDP district executive Hacı Zengin died after he was hit by a gas bomb thrown by the police during heavy interventions against thousands of people who wanted to celebrate Newroz. The Ministry of the Interior denied permission for the celebrations this year.

Protests and Clashes after Time-barring Sivas Trial

Protests and Clashes after Time-barring Sivas Trial

Members of political parties and trade unions demonstrated against the decision to procedures of the Sivas trial by prescription. University students were attacked on campus when they protested the disputed decision.

ECHR Upheld Decision on Roma Book and Dictionaries

ECHR Upheld Decision on Roma Book and Dictionaries

The European Court of Human Rights upheld the decision that the book "Gypsies in Turkey" did not constitute a violation of the right to respect for private and family life. Mustafa Aksu had previously appealed the decision on behalf of the Roma Associations.

Joint Struggle for Release of Journalists Must be Continued

Joint Struggle for Release of Journalists Must be Continued

Renowned Turkish writers, lawyers and journalists drew attention to the situation of arrested and laid-off journalists in Turkey at the Symposium on Freedom of Thought and Expression from 12 to 12 held in Istanbul on 15 March.

16 March 2012 Nilay Vardar

Journalists Özköse and Coşkun Missing

Journalists Özköse and Coşkun Missing

Journalists Özköse and Coşkun disappeared in Syria five days ago. Foreign Minister Davutoğlu assured to take every effort for a safe return of the journalists.

Price for Refusing Military Service: Civil Death

Price for Refusing Military Service: Civil Death

30-year-old Kocaoğlu was doomed to civil death after his ID was seized ten years ago when he refused to complete his military service. He is not able to work, to marry and claims not to be able to receive medical treatment at hospital.

15 March 2012 Ekin Karaca

Killing 12-year-old Uğur Kaymaz - "Use of Proportional Force"?

Killing 12-year-old Uğur Kaymaz - "Use of Proportional Force"?

The Turkish government submitted their defence regarding the killing of 12-year-old Uğur Kantar and his father to the European Court of Human Rights. It was claimed that "proportional force" was used and that the policemen "had no other option".

İHD 2011 Prison Report - Summary of Rights Violations

İHD 2011 Prison Report - Summary of Rights Violations

256 sick convicts, 106 of whom are severely ill, are waiting for their release from prison, according to the 2011 report of the Human Rights Foundation. Especially prisoners in eastern and south-eastern regions are continuously exposed to rights violations.

Omnipresent Violence Pushes Children towards Crime

Omnipresent Violence Pushes Children towards Crime

According to a survey made with children who were forced to immigrate to the cities of Diyarbakır and Istanbul, violence is an omnipresent part of their lives and constitutes the most influential factor for crime.

"Laughable" Internet Bans

"Laughable" Internet Bans

Reporters Without Borders criticized the application of the internet filtering system in Turkey and also the access bans to many sites. Even though the list of banned words was described as "laughable" it still constitutes a restriction of freedoms, RSF warned.

Monetary Fine for Turkey from Strasbourg

Monetary Fine for Turkey from Strasbourg

Yunus Aysu, found guilty by Turkish courts of membership in the Hizbullah, won his case at the European Court of Human Rights. The Turkish government is to pay € 19,000 in compensation on the grounds of multiple violations of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Sivas Massacre - Procedures Time-Barred

Sivas Massacre - Procedures Time-Barred

The trial regarding the Sivas massacre was closed by prescription in line with the request of the prosecutor. Thousands of people gathered in front of the courthouse and demanded to accept the massacre as a crime against humanity and hence not to drop procedures.

Journalists Şık and Şener Released

Journalists Şık and Şener Released

Four defendants of the Oda TV case were released pending trial: Journalists Nedim Şener and Ahmet Şık and Odat TV writers Çoşkun Musluk and Sail Çakır. Şık and Şener presented their defence at the 12 March hearing.

13 March 2012 Ekin Karaca,Çiçek Tahaoğlu