RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 191

'Regulation on Internet Media Must be Made Public'

'Regulation on Internet Media Must be Made Public'

The Alternative Information Association drew attention to an amendment in the Press Law regulating the internet media and warned that the new change bears the risk of taking the internet under official control.

14 November 2011

The Deaths of a Son and a Daugther - A Soldier and a Guerrilla

The Deaths of a Son and a Daugther - A Soldier and a Guerrilla

bianet talked to the brothers of killed soldier Onur Karakuş and to the mother of killed guerrilla Ebru Muhikancı. They tell us who is hurt the most by the pain of this war.

11 November 2011 Işıl Cinmen

Mayor Baydemir Facing 28 Years in Jail

Mayor Baydemir Facing 28 Years in Jail

Diyarbakır Mayor Baydemir is facing imprisonment of up to 28 years on charges of "propaganda for a terrorist organization" in a new trial opened against him. The charges are based on evidence such as having attended a funeral.

10 November 2011

TMK and TCK Dismissive of ''News" and ''Journalists''

TMK and TCK Dismissive of ''News" and ''Journalists''

According to the BIA Media Monitoring Report for the second quarter of 2011, 68 journalists went to jail till July, 12 of them because of their news, writings and utterances. Turkish courts decided for prison sentences of 44 years and 8 months in total in April, May and June.

7 November 2011

News of 3 Journalists allegedly Assisted Illegal Organization

News of 3 Journalists allegedly Assisted Illegal Organization

Three journalists stand trial in Diyarbakır under allegations of "assisting an illegal organization" and "propaganda" because of their news. Defence lawyer Yalçındağ claimed that his clients are on trial due to their journalistic activities.

4 November 2011 Emel Gülcan

Appeal and Protest against KCK Arrests

Appeal and Protest against KCK Arrests

A bill of exception was handed to court regarding the arrest of 46 people, including academic Ersanlı and publisher Zarakolu, in the scope of the KCK operation. A group of academics protested the arrests in front of the courthouse.

4 November 2011 Nilay Vardar

bianet Went to Court - Regulations Changed

bianet Went to Court - Regulations Changed

Due to a change of regulations the Council of State dismissed bianet's request to stall the disputed internet filter application. Bianet had filed an according case against the application which is part of the "Draft Bill on Principles and Procedures for the Safe Use of the Internet".

3 November 2011 Ekin Karaca

"Allegations against Ersanlı Lack legal Basis"

"Allegations against Ersanlı Lack legal Basis"

According to lawyer Gülüm, Pof Ersanlı's arrest was based on the assumption that the Political Academy of the BDP has connections with an armed terrorist organization. Gülüm claims that the allegations lack a legal basis and that the arrest of her client is politically motivated.

3 November 2011 Ekin Karaca

Şener Acquitted in 2 Cases - Şık in Court as Plaintiff

Şener Acquitted in 2 Cases - Şık in Court as Plaintiff

Journalist Nedim Şener was now acquitted in two trials of charges of insult and violation of confidentiality based on a news item published in 2010. Ahmet Şık, detained together with Şener since March, appeared at court as a complainant in a different trial.

2 November 2011

"Investigating alleged Use of Chemical Weapons"

"Investigating alleged Use of Chemical Weapons"

The Hakkari Branch of the Human Rights Association investigates allegations regarding the use of chemical weapons in the Kazan Valley. Branch chair Akbulut said they took samples from the region for an analysis. They also found body parts which they sent to the prosecution.

2 November 2011 Yüce Yöney

44 People Arrested - among them Ersanlı and Zarakolu

44 People Arrested - among them Ersanlı and Zarakolu

44 out of 50 people who were taken into police custody were arrested on 1 November and taken to prison in the scope of the KCK operations.

2 November 2011

4 Trials against "Laz Marks" Show

4 Trials against "Laz Marks" Show

A total of 4 trials were opened on the grounds of the Laz Marks stand-up political comedy stage-managed by Haldun Açıksözlü since 2009. Açıksözlü is charged with "praising crime and a criminal" and "insult of the Prime Minister".

1 November 2011 Emel Gülcan

Prosecutor Demanded Arrest of Ersanlı and Zarakolu

Prosecutor Demanded Arrest of Ersanlı and Zarakolu

The prosecutor demanded the arrest of Prof. Ersanlı and writer Zarakolu, two out of 47 people who were taken into police custody on 28 October in the course of the latest KCK operations.

1 November 2011

"Academic Pressure Remains in History of Labour till today"

"Academic Pressure Remains in History of Labour till today"

Lecturer Çelik said in his speech at the "Controversial History" symposium that the writing of labour history still remained insufficient because of the claim that "rights were given to the workers and taken away again" and also due to political and academic pressure.

31 October 2011 Nilay Vardar

Professor Ersanli and Publisher Zarakolu Detained

Professor Ersanli and Publisher Zarakolu Detained

Professor Ersanli and publisher and human rights activist Zarakolu were taken under custody. During the same KCK operation 41 people were also taken under custody on Friday.

29 October 2011

Possible Reduction of Sentence for İnan Süver

Possible Reduction of Sentence for İnan Süver

The examination of conscientious objector Süver at the GATA military hospital it was determined in the related report to reduce his penalty and to have him serve his sentence at hospital. Süver was convicted on charges of "absence without leave".

28 October 2011 Ekin Karaca

Complaint about OdaTV Prosecutor Kansız

Complaint about OdaTV Prosecutor Kansız

Republican People's Party Deputy Oyan filed a complaint at the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors about Public Prosecutor Kansız who prepared the indictment of the Oda TV trial.

28 October 2011

RSF Criticized Government Directives to the Media

RSF Criticized Government Directives to the Media

Reporters without Borders described the recent declaration of five major Turkish news agencies as "disturbing". The declaration, seen by RSF as a "serious threat to freedom of information", came after a meeting of PM Erdoğan with media owners and executives.

28 October 2011

"We will Comply with Official Publication Bans..."

"We will Comply with Official Publication Bans..."

Five news agencies announced in a joint statement that their news were going to "take into account the public order" and that they were going to "comply with publication bans of the competent authorities". The statement came right after the Prime Minister's media meeting.

24 October 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Torture in 'Disko' Case

Torture in 'Disko' Case

Five soldiers and one prison director are indicted in the Uğur Kantar death by torture trial. Contrary to the statement of the General Staff, the indictment claims that Kantar died as the result of torture.

21 October 2011 Ekin Karaca

Parliament and Prime Ministry Closed their Doors

Parliament and Prime Ministry Closed their Doors

The security summit held in parliament on 20 October was closed to the press "in order to talk about everything openly and precisely". Prime Minister Erdoğan was going to meet representatives of the press later.

21 October 2011

President Gül Announced "Revenge" after PKK Attacks

President Gül Announced "Revenge" after PKK Attacks

President Gül announced "revenge" in a statement on the PKK attacks on 19 October that caused the death of 24 soldiers. The General Staff Presidency launched a large-scale air-land operations in the region. The Turkish people want the fighting to stop once and for all.

21 October 2011

Reactions after PKK Attack in Hakkari

Reactions after PKK Attack in Hakkari

After PKK attacks that left 24 soldiers dead, a cross-border operation to Iraq was launched. According to Yüksekova Haber reporter Dara, even though the clashes did not spill into the city centre people in Hakkari are extremely concerned.

20 October 2011

Student Demanding Free Education Seriously Threatened

Student Demanding Free Education Seriously Threatened

University student Morsümbül who spent his childhood at the meetings of the Saturday Mothers and visits at the Bayrampaşa Prison was taken into police custody because he demanded free education. He was told in custody, "We might 'lose' you just as we 'lost' your uncle".

19 October 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Attacks in Hakkari Claim 24 Casualties

Attacks in Hakkari Claim 24 Casualties

A total of 24 soldiers were killed in eight separate attacks in Çukurova and Yüksekova early this morning. Ten soldiers were wounded.

19 October 2011

Indicted Politician Tan: "I Will not Go to Court"

Indicted Politician Tan: "I Will not Go to Court"

The court decided to bring Altan Tan, deputy of the pro-Kurdish BDP, to court on compulsion. He is facing more than 23 years in jail. "One day, these prosecutors will be ashamed like the prosecutors of 12 September", Tan told bianet.

19 October 2011 Işıl Cinmen

Police Violence in Public Transport

Police Violence in Public Transport

A civil police officer and two of her relatives allegedly attacked two young persons who were talking about justice in a public metro bus in Istanbul on 14 October. The assailants put forward pretexts of "harassment" and "sex".

18 October 2011 Yüce Yöney

"We Will also Consider Complaints of Homosexuals"

"We Will also Consider Complaints of Homosexuals"

Bostancı, Vice President of the commission, said that applications of "violence in same-sex relations or unions have to be considered as well". The Human Rights Investigation Commission consists of 21 people including its latest member Independent MP Kürkçü.

18 October 2011

"Laid-off Persons Cannot Seek their Right"

"Laid-off Persons Cannot Seek their Right"

Laid-off worker Kaya was not able to open a trial against her dismissal because she could not pay the advance fee according to the new law. The ÇHD Lawyers Association applied to the State Council for annulling the law since "it abolished the right to access to the judiciary".

18 October 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Conscientious Objector Süver Stopped Hunger Strike

Conscientious Objector Süver Stopped Hunger Strike

Conscientious objector İnan Süver stopped his hunger strike after 39 days. He stopped his protest when he got to know that he was going to be transferred to the Gülhane Military Medical Academy.

17 October 2011 Ekin Karaca

"Lost" in Custody - Time-Barred in 9 Days

"Lost" in Custody - Time-Barred in 9 Days

An application to obtain information about Hüseyin Toraman who "got lost" in police custody 20 years ago brought the prosecution to launch a preliminary investigation into the whereabouts of Toraman. The file will become time-barred on 27 October.

17 October 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Minorities Unite in "People's Democratic Congress"

Minorities Unite in "People's Democratic Congress"

The two-day meeting of the Congress Initiative in Ankara was attended by 800 delegates from 20 regions. Moreover, many members of political parties, non-governmental organizations and trade unions joined the congress.

17 October 2011 Mehmet Atakan Foça