RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 186

International Mother Language Day Festival on bianet

International Mother Language Day Festival on bianet

On 21 February, the International Mother Language Day, bianet published articles in 20 different languages spoken in Turkey today. Some of these languages are about to disappear and were included to the UNESCO World Atlas of Languages in Danger.

21 February 2012

"We went on Hunger-Strike - Negotiation is the Solution"

"We went on Hunger-Strike - Negotiation is the Solution"

Deputies of the Peace and Democracy Party went on a two-day hunger strike to support more than 60 detainees including deputies Irmak and Sarıyıldız. The deputies urge for negotiations to solve the Kurdish question.

21 February 2012 Serhat Korkmaz

State Concedes "Severe Mistake"

State Concedes "Severe Mistake"

After an investigation into the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, the State Supervisory Council concluded that "the public service severely failed to protect Dink's right to life". The probe was conducted upon the request of President Gül.

21 February 2012

Police "Bonus" System for Custodies and Arrests?

Police "Bonus" System for Custodies and Arrests?

CHP member Onur asked in a parliamentary question how "bonus points" were going to prevent arbitrary custodies. Onur addressed Minister of the Interior Şahin with the question whether this system was applied in the Ergenekon, Hopa, KCK and Oda TV operations.

20 February 2012 Ayça Söylemez

Forensic Medicine Institute: Reason of Kantar's Death Unclear

Forensic Medicine Institute: Reason of Kantar's Death Unclear

Trial procedures regarding soldier Uğur Kantar who allegedly died as the result of torture are still going slowly. The Ankara Forensic Medicine Institution was not able to determine the reason for Kantar's death. The trial was postponed to 20 April.

20 February 2012 Ekin Karaca

9 Women Affiliated with KESK Arrested

9 Women Affiliated with KESK Arrested

Nine women union members affiliated with the KESK trade union confederation were arrested on 17 February. "Oppression and custodies will not intimidate us" said KESK members one day earlier when 14 female union members had been taken into custody during a KCK operation.

20 February 2012

Commission Viewed Heron Images: "Obviously Smugglers"

Commission Viewed Heron Images: "Obviously Smugglers"

BDP and CHP deputies who watched the heron footage of the Uludere area commented, "The images were very clear, the people were killed while they were clearly visible". Head of the commission Üstün argued that the images alone are not enough to see the whole picture.

17 February 2012

Movie Directors Arslan and Photographer Özer Released

Movie Directors Arslan and Photographer Özer Released

Movie Director Arslan and photographer Özer were among 35 people who were released on 16 February. In Istanbul, a total of 49 people were taken into custody in the scope of a KCK operation 3 days earlier. 46 people all in all were released in Diyarbakır and Izmir.

17 February 2012

Reviving the Armenian Language

Reviving the Armenian Language

The Armenian Culture and Solidarity Association organizes a workshop about the Western Armenian language. The project on the language that is endangered to disappear completely will start on 18 February and stretches over a period of one year.

16 February 2012

Demonstrators and Job-Seeker in Custody

Demonstrators and Job-Seeker in Custody

23 people were taken into police custody in Taksim/Istanbul when the police intervened against demonstrators on 15 February, the day jailed PKK leader Öcalan was extradited to Turkey. The same day, journalist Yıldız was taken into custody when she applied for a new job.

16 February 2012 Nilay Vardar

Dink Family Petitions Prosecution of Public Officials

Dink Family Petitions Prosecution of Public Officials

After the final hearing of the trial related to the Hrant Dink murder in January, the family of the slain Turkish-Armenian journalist applied to the chief prosecutor's office for the litigation of public officials in the context of the murder.

16 February 2012

Turkey: Draft Reform Bill Falls Short

Turkey: Draft Reform Bill Falls Short

Human Rights Watch announced that the new reform bill introduced by the Turkish government failed to resolve problems related to freedom of expression and arbitrary detention. The international organization expressed concern about the limited approach of the draft package.

15 February 2012

Artists in Custody

Artists in Custody

Movie director Arslan and photograph artist Özer are among approximately 140 people taken into police custody in the course of the KCK operation on 13 February. The police refrained from seizing Özer's unpublished book because they did not want to "get into trouble".

15 February 2012

"Forgotten" Defendant İğci Acquitted

"Forgotten" Defendant İğci Acquitted

The court handling the Hrant Dink murder case forgot to give a decision about un-detained defendant Coşkun İğci. He was now acquitted.

14 February 2012

EU Turns down Fence between Greece and Turkey

EU Turns down Fence between Greece and Turkey

The EU declined Greece's plan to erect a fence on the border to Turkey saying it was "unnecessary and too expensive". Assoc. Prof Danış told bianet that a fence was not the solution to the reasons of immigration. In her opinion, Greece wanted to give a message with this project.

14 February 2012 Işıl Cinmen

Number of Prisoners Exceeds Population of 4 Provinces

Number of Prisoners Exceeds Population of 4 Provinces

According to data published by the Ministry of Justice, the number of imprisoned detainees and convicts reached 131,317. In other words, the number of prisoners in Turkey now exceeds the population of each provinces of Dersim, Bayburt, Ardahan and Kilis.

14 February 2012

Dozens of Custodies in KCK Operations

Dozens of Custodies in KCK Operations

Homes in various provinces are being searched in the scope of new KCK operations. Women executives of KESK and affiliated trade unions are taken into custody. KESK Chairman Özgen claimed the operation aimed at obstructing actions on Women's Day on 8 March.

13 February 2012 Nilay Vardar

Judicial Reform Bill - Step into the Right Direction

Judicial Reform Bill - Step into the Right Direction

Reporters Without Borders examined the third Judicial Reform Bill and announced, "RSF hopes that it represents a first step towards more significant reforms, or else its impact will be minimal".

10 February 2012

Heads of Anti-Terror and Intelligence Branches Dismissed

Heads of Anti-Terror and Intelligence Branches Dismissed

The heads of the Anti-Terror Branch in charge of the KCK operations and of the Intelligence Branch were deposed from office. This happened right after the statements of officials of the National Intelligence Agency had been taken in the scope of the KCK operation.

9 February 2012

Complainant: Police. Expert: Police.

Complainant: Police. Expert: Police.

The court handling the case of Ferhat Gerçek who was shot by police officers appointed the police as an "expert" on the matter. Gerçek's lawyer claimed the "expert report" to be incorrect and prepares a criminal complaint about the police officer who wrote the report.

9 February 2012 Ayça Söylemez

Academic Ersanlı and Writer Zarakolu - 100 Days in Jail

Academic Ersanlı and Writer Zarakolu - 100 Days in Jail

"We want Justice and Freedom on the 100th day of arrest" demanded the Eğitim-Sen Istanbul Universities Branch on 8 February. The protestors marked the 100th day in detention for academic Ersanlı and writer Zarakolu with a demonstration in front of the Beşiktaş Courthouse.

9 February 2012 Serhat Korkmaz

Grup Yorum Band Facing ongoing Persecution

Grup Yorum Band Facing ongoing Persecution

"Freedom to Grup Yorum - Release Seçkin Aydoğan" was written on the banner of the Grup Yorum band. They started a series of weekly mini concerts on the Galatasary square in Istanbul to call for the release of group member Aydoğan.

7 February 2012 Ayça Söylemez

"Police Settle old Scores with Avcı"

"Police Settle old Scores with Avcı"

Defendant Bozkurt admitted his membership in the Revolutionary Headquarters group and requested the release of the other defendants. Prosecutor Duran recommended to reject that demand and encountered Bozkurt's harsh reaction. None of the defendants was released.

7 February 2012 Işıl Cinmen

"General Staff and Government Bear Responsibility"

"General Staff and Government Bear Responsibility"

MP Kürkçü of the Uludere sub-commission said, "The operation was directed from Ankara. The General Staff bears responsibility and therefore also the political power". MP Gök stated that the operation was done with the knowledge of the Prime Ministry and the General Staff.

7 February 2012 Ayça Söylemez

"Universities Behave like Courts"

"Universities Behave like Courts"

Disciplinary penalties handed down to students of the Marmara, Selçuk and Pamukkale Universities recently evoked discussions on the Discipline Regulations of the Higher Education Council. Leading experts and academics evaluated the issue for bianet.

6 February 2012 Serhat Korkmaz

"Hate is an Attitude Rather than a Feeling"

"Hate is an Attitude Rather than a Feeling"

The Hate Crimes Law Campaign Platform started a series of information meetings. The first session on hate speech was done together with media representatives. Prof İnceoğlu warned that hate speech became more hidden and more dangerous at the same time.

6 February 2012 Işıl Cinmen

2011: Year of Publication Bans

2011: Year of Publication Bans

The annual report on the Marmara Region released by the Human Rights Association revealed, "Torture spilled over from detention centres to the street". Also in 2011 in the region, 81 publications were seized and banned, 71 more than in the previous year.

3 February 2012 Ayça Söylemez

Dev-Yol Trial Time-Barred

Dev-Yol Trial Time-Barred

The Dev-Yol main trial was closed by prescription after 30 years. The case started with 723 defendants in 1982. At last, procedures were continued against 21 defendants. Lawyer Mehdi Bekatş said that this decision was expected.

2 February 2012 Ekin Karaca

Proposal for Investigation of Unsolved Murders Dismissed!

Proposal for Investigation of Unsolved Murders Dismissed!

Bones belonging to 26 people were found right next to the building formerly used as JİTEM headquarters in Diyarbakır. The proposal for a research commission made by the BDP was rejected because the "cheque law was going to be discussed" in parliament.

2 February 2012

Law Proposal against "Unjustified Arrest"

Law Proposal against "Unjustified Arrest"

BDP deputy Aksoy submitted a law proposal to prevent unjustified arrests and avoid lengthy detention periods to be turned into punishment. Aksoy suggests to amend Article 100/3 of the Criminal Procedure Law related to catalogue crimes.

1 February 2012 Ayça Söylemez

First Surveillance of Twitter?

First Surveillance of Twitter?

A group of people who arranged for a dinner via Twitter for the protest action "Haydarpaşa should not get dark" encountered a police control. The police was informed due to a related notice on Twitter. In the opinion of lawyer Bolaç, the police are "closely following the internet".

1 February 2012 Ayça Söylemez

Commission Takes Action

Commission Takes Action

The sub-commission established for the investigation into the Uludere massacre is going to visit the region on 2/3 February in order to speak to the survivors of the bombardment and the relatives of the victims and to hold talks with pubic officials.

31 January 2012