RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 188

Crackdowns on KESK and BDP

Crackdowns on KESK and BDP

Offices and homes related to the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party and the KESK unions confederation were raided on 13 January. Dozens of BDP and KESK members were taken into police custody in Istanbul and Diyarbakır.

15 January 2012

Blame or Defense?

Blame or Defense?

The indictment of the 1980 military coup claimed that "the ground for the coup was prepared by creating chaos in the country". Prosecutor Çetin pointed to a "state within the state" as the framework for the organization of large-scale events that preceded the coup.

13 January 2012 Ayça Söylemez

Opposition Leader Kılıçdaroğlu under Investigation

Opposition Leader Kılıçdaroğlu under Investigation

Deputies of the opposition party CHP criticized the fact that CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu became subject to an investigation based on an announcement he made. They followed the example of their chairman and applied for lifting their parliamentary immunity.

12 January 2012

JİTEM Mass Grave in Diyarbakır

JİTEM Mass Grave in Diyarbakır

"The bones of six persons were found in the course of restoration works next to a building belonging to JİTEM" the Human Rights Association announced. The excavation is being conducted in co-operation with the prosecutor's office.

12 January 2012 Ayça Söylemez

More KCK Operations, Custodies, Arrests...

More KCK Operations, Custodies, Arrests...

22 people were taken into police custody in Diyarbakır in the course of the latest KCK operations, among them the Deputy Mayor of Bağlar. Eleven persons were arrested in Istanbul few days earlier.

12 January 2012

New Hrant Dink Case Possible

New Hrant Dink Case Possible

Five years after the murder of Turkish Armenian journalist Dink, Judge Eryılmaz announced his intention to bring the trial to an end soon. Yet, considering new findings revealed by the plaintiff lawyers from the TİB records, a new case might be opened.

12 January 2012 Işıl Cinmen

Kurdish Roj TV Received Fine but Remains on Air

Kurdish Roj TV Received Fine but Remains on Air

A Danish court rejected the request to close down the Kurdish Roj TV channel and ruled for a monetary fine of DKK 65,000. The satellite channel was alleged of having connections with the PKK.

11 January 2012

12 September Indictment Accepted

12 September Indictment Accepted

The Ankara 12th High Criminal Court accepted the indictment related to the military coup in 1980. Former President and Chief of General Staff Kenan Evren and ret. Gen. Tahsin Şahinkaya are the two main suspects.

11 January 2012

"Nothing to Celebrate"

"Nothing to Celebrate"

On 10 January, the Day of Working Journalists, the Contemporary Journalists Association highlighted oppression of journalists in their press release. "There is no press day to celebrate and there is no Day of Journalists worthy to be commemorated any more", they said.

11 January 2012

Decision on 17 January?

Decision on 17 January?

The 24th hearing of the Hrant Dink murder trial was held on 10 January. The court president announced to possibly give a decision at the coming hearing on 17 January, two days prior to the 5th anniversary of the journalist's assassination.

11 January 2012 Işıl Cinmen

Academics Oppose Internet Filter at Universities

Academics Oppose Internet Filter at Universities

Upon the initiative of the Alternative Communication Association, more than a hundred academics launched a signature campaign against applying the disputed internet filtering system at universities.

10 January 2012

Denial of Genocide to be Criminalized in Entire EU

Denial of Genocide to be Criminalized in Entire EU

According to the EU states' Joint Framework Decision on the denial of genocide, the denial of the Armenian genocide can be considered a crime in 26 countries. French President Sarkozy wants the decision to be valid in the whole EU.

10 January 2012

"Isolation Kills" - Life in F Type Prisons

"Isolation Kills" - Life in F Type Prisons

The Human Rights Association Istanbul Branch Prisons Commission launched a campaign for the closure of F type prisons due to unhealthy conditions and rights violations. The list of prohibitions for convicts of aggravated life sentences is long.

10 January 2012 Ayça Söylemez

'Prisoners Gazette' Published with "Enlarged Staff"

'Prisoners Gazette' Published with "Enlarged Staff"

The second issue of the Prisoners Gazette will be available on 10 January. The newspaper was prepared by 43 detained journalists, two journalists released from prison and two guest writers.

Commander Deposed from Office - Five Locals Arrested

Commander Deposed from Office - Five Locals Arrested

Gendarmerie Colonel Güney, Deputy Commander of the Gülyazı Border Regiment, was deposed from office related to the Uludere massacre in south-eastern Turkey. Five people were arrested because of an alleged attack against the district governor.

Turkish People Call for Peace

Turkish People Call for Peace

The Peoples' Democratic Congress started a three-month series of weekly protests against the widely criticized Uludere operation. Protestors gathered in Istanbul and Ankara on Saturday. Also the Peace Initiatives in Istanbul called for peace and a clarification of the incident.

Bar Associations: "Uludere Happened Intentionally"

Bar Associations: "Uludere Happened Intentionally"

12 bar associations carried out a probe into the Uludere attack and announced, "Strong evidence suggests that the incident happened intentionally. The attitude of the authorities led to an emotional offence against the people in the region".

Journalist Şık: "I Do not Request my Release"

Journalist Şık: "I Do not Request my Release"

Journalist Şık, detained defendant of the Oda TV trial, said in his defence speech that his book "The Imam's Army" was investigated by the very people he described in the book. Şık claimed to be in jail because of his journalistic work and did not request his release.

GÖP Urged for Fair Trial and Release of Journalists

GÖP Urged for Fair Trial and Release of Journalists

On the day of the 8th hearing of the Oda TV trial, representatives of the Freedom for Journalists Platform called for fair trial procedures in accordance with the law and urged for an end of the detention of the indicted journalists.

Uludere Attack: Survivors Froze to Death

Uludere Attack: Survivors Froze to Death

Eight NGOs, including the Human Rights Association and the Turkish Medical Chamber, released a report about the Uludere operation that left 35 civilians dead. The report revealed that some victims froze or bled to death since official institutions failed to react on time.

Istanbul University Students Released

Istanbul University Students Released

The students that were taken into police custody after a conflict at the Istanbul University were released on 3 January. Students from various organizations protested the incident and claimed, "This was not a conflict between left and right but a fascist attack".

4 January 2012 Nilay Vardar

Two more Journalists Arrested

Two more Journalists Arrested

Halkın Günlüğü newspaper reporter Sevgül was arrested in Diyarbakır in the context of a protest against the Uludere bombing. Former Özgür Gündem newspaper editor Kişin was arrested in the scope of the KCK investigation.

35 Civilians Dead - Protestors Released

35 Civilians Dead - Protestors Released

32 people who were taken into custody in Istanbul because they protested the death of 35 civilians were now released. The villagers were killed in an aerial strike in south-eastern Turkey.

The 10 Most Dangerous Places for Journalists

The 10 Most Dangerous Places for Journalists

Reporters Without Borders compiled a list of the world's ten most dangerous places for the media. According to the report, 66 journalists were killed in 2012.

Bill of Exception for Detained Journalists

Bill of Exception for Detained Journalists

The defence lawyers of the journalists in custody and detention in the scope of the KCK trial submitted a bill of exception. At the subsequent press release, the lawyers were supported by deputies Tuncel, Aksoy, Dora and Zenderlioğlu of the pro-Kurdish BDP.

2 January 2012 Sercan Meriç

Parliament President Calls for Contribution, Police Use Tear Gas

Parliament President Calls for Contribution, Police Use Tear Gas

Members of the Dev Sağlık-İş socialist trade union were taken into custody and released later on when they tried to forward their request for a raise of the minimum wage. Union President Çerkezoğlu criticized, "On one hand they ask for the unions' contributions and on the other hand they attack the workers with tear gas".

2 January 2012 Nilay Vardar

BİA Media Monitoring Report 2011 - Third Quarter Full Text

BİA Media Monitoring Report 2011 - Third Quarter Full Text

In July, August and September 2011, 66 journalists were in jail, 11 of whom because of their writings and utterances. 13 people are facing imprisonment of 334.5 years in total. Most of the trials are based on Articles 7/2 of the Anti Terror Law and 314 and 220 of the Criminal Law.

30 December 2011

Turkish Air Strike Kills More Than 30 Civilians

Turkish Air Strike Kills More Than 30 Civilians

War planes bombarded a group of villagers in the border region with Iraq, claiming that they were PKK rebels.

29 December 2011

Journalist Mavioğlu Acquitted

Journalist Mavioğlu Acquitted

Radikal daily editor Ertuğrul Mavioğlu has been acquitted on charges related to an interview he made with the rebel group PKK's leader Murat Karayılan.

29 December 2011

KCK Operations: 36 People Arrested

KCK Operations: 36 People Arrested

36 of the 49 people taken under custody during the latest wave of police operations against the alleged pro-Kurdish organization KCK, are arrested by the court.

26 December 2011

Governor Averts Commemoration on Maraş Massacre

Governor Averts Commemoration on Maraş Massacre

On the 33rd anniversary of the massacre in the southern city of Maraş, activists and relatives of the dead are not allowed into the city. Gendarmerie clashed with protestors.

26 December 2011

Strong Reaction to Journalists' Arrest

Strong Reaction to Journalists' Arrest

Thousands gathered in Istanbul and Ankara, protesting the arrest of journalists in relation to the infamous KCK operations. Journalists, MPs, rights activists, union leaders condemn the latest police operation as the final nail on the coffin of freedom of expression in Turkey.

21 December 2011