RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 197

50 "Sour Dictionary" Writers Summoned to Prosecutor's Office

50 "Sour Dictionary" Writers Summoned to Prosecutor's Office

The Istanbul police called about 50 writers of the "Sour Dictionary" to the prosecutor's office to give their statement regarding headings that were related to religious topics. This operation came just after the Sour Dictionary announced to have applied a "Hate Speech Control Project".

22 June 2011 Haluk Kalafat

"Human Rights Priorities for the New Government"

"Human Rights Priorities for the New Government"

Human Rights Watch addressed Prime Minister Erdoğan in a letter and underlined the unique "opportunity to demonstrate at home and abroad the central importance of human rights and the rule of law in Turkey".

Political Prisoners Punished for Labour Day Slogans

Political Prisoners Punished for Labour Day Slogans

63 detainees and convicts of the Sincan Prison were punished for chanting "pointless slogans" on 1 May. The inmates had celebrated Labour Day by singing marches and chanting slogans. As a result, they were banned from communication and visits for 1 month.

21 June 2011 Ayça Söylemez

"Breaking Taboos"

"Breaking Taboos"

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite and transsexual individuals celebrate the 19th Pride Week from 20-26 June in Istanbul. The event kicked off with the second Trans Pride March on Sunday. It comes right after the gay rights resolution passed by the UN Human Rights Council.

21 June 2011 Çiçek Tahaoğlu

PM Erdoğan: Some Trials Withdrawn - Some still Pending

PM Erdoğan: Some Trials Withdrawn - Some still Pending

Prime Minister Erdoğan withdrew several trials opened against politicians and journalists before the elections. However, the cases against journalists Oktay Ekşi and Ergun Poyraz, writer Yalçın Küçük and artist Müjat Gezen are still pending.

Detained Candidate Dicle Approved as MP

Detained Candidate Dicle Approved as MP

Hatip Dicle, Independent candidate of the Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block in Diyarbakır, received the official approval that he was elected in the parliamentary elections on 12 June. Six elected defendants of the KCK trial request their release from prison.

The Harm of Harmful Publications

The Harm of Harmful Publications

International PEN and PEN Turkey held this year's "Freedom to the Word" Literature Festival in Istanbul last weekend. Publishers, writers and interpreters discussed the "Harm of Harmful Publications" and the function of the Board for Protection from Harmful Publications.

20 June 2011 Nilay Vardar

Writer Akhanlı Faces Life Sentence despite Lack of Evidence

Writer Akhanlı Faces Life Sentence despite Lack of Evidence

Writer Akhanlı is facing an aggravated life sentence on charges of the "attempt to change the constitutional order". According to lawyer Kanar, the final speech of the prosecution lacks evidence and legal grounds.

17 June 2011 Ekin Karaca

10-Month Prison Sentence for Kurdish Politician Ayna

10-Month Prison Sentence for Kurdish Politician Ayna

Independent MP Emine Ayna was sentenced to imprisonment of ten months on the grounds of a speech she delivered at the Newroz celebrations in Siirt in 2007. She was charged with "propaganda" together with a further 25 defendants.

German Sociologist Found in Mass Grave in Van

German Sociologist Found in Mass Grave in Van

After the investigation of a mass grave in Çatak/Van, it was reported that the remains of German Sociologist Wolf were found among the approximately 40 bodies in the cave.

17 June 2011 Nilay Vardar

No Prosecution of "Trabzon Police" for Dink Murder

No Prosecution of "Trabzon Police" for Dink Murder

The Rize High Criminal Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Dink family lawyers against the closure of procedures regarding officials of the Trabzon police. Domestic remedies have been exhausted upon the rejection of the Rize court.

"Left-Wing Opposition Considered as 'the Enemy'"

"Left-Wing Opposition Considered as 'the Enemy'"

The anti-government demonstrations in Hopa are still creating a stir in several parts of the country. 19 people were taken into custody in Ankara, 26 people were interrogated in Antakya. The police try to find connections between the protestors and illegal organizations.

17 June 2011 Ekin Karaca

Batman: 20 People in Police Custody

Batman: 20 People in Police Custody

20 people in Batman, mostly affiliated to the pro-Kurdish BDP, were taken into police custody in the course of simultaneous raids on their homes. The reason has not been declared yet. Meanwhile, a signboard in Turkish and Kurdish became the subject of a court case.

15 People Taken into Police Custody in Ankara - So Far

15 People Taken into Police Custody in Ankara - So Far

15 people were taken into police custody on 15 June. The operation that was still going on on Wednesday afternoon was allegedly connected to a press release regarding the death of retired teacher Lokumcu after a massive police intervention in Hopa.

16 June 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Cyber Attack on ANF News Agency

Cyber Attack on ANF News Agency

The website of the Fırat News Agency is subject to a cyber attack that made access temporarily impossible. The site can currently be reached under www.firatnews.ws.

Ağrı KCK Trial: Prison Sentences of almost 92 Years

Ağrı KCK Trial: Prison Sentences of almost 92 Years

Eleven people who stood trial in the scope of the KCK case in Ağrı were sentenced to imprisonment of 91 years and eleven months in total. The court did not hear their defence speeches because the defendants requested to speak Kurdish at the hearing.

Six Members of Freedom and Solidarity Party released

Six Members of Freedom and Solidarity Party released

Two days after Prime Minister Erdoğan's party won the elections, six people in Çorum were taken into police custody on the grounds of their participation in the 1 May celebrations 45 days ago. They were released the same day.

15 June 2011 Ekin Karaca

Prison Sentence for Dubious Facebook Account

Prison Sentence for Dubious Facebook Account

Newspaper distributor Karahan was sentenced to imprisonment of two years on charges of "propaganda for an illegal organization". The sentence was based on certain terms posted on a Facebook account registered in Karahan's name.

15 June 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Journalist Zengin Released Pending Trial

Journalist Zengin Released Pending Trial

"Freedom for Zengin" as demanded by the journalist's supporters was the decision of the court at the hearing on 14 June. Journalist Zengin was released pending trial after two years in prison. She is charged with "membership in an illegal organization.

15 June 2011 Ayça Söylemez

TİT Sent Fourth Death Threat to Rights Defender Oran

TİT Sent Fourth Death Threat to Rights Defender Oran

Journalist and academic Baskın Oran received his fourth death threat signed by the Turkish Revenge Brigade. The message was sent to the Armenian Agos newspaper and read "your time has come to die".

15 June 2011 Ekin Karaca

Fifth Round for "From the Classroom to the Newsroom"

Fifth Round for "From the Classroom to the Newsroom"

For the fifth time, the IPS Communication Foundation will give graduate students the chance to be trained in rights journalism. From 9 to 16 July, journalists, academics and human rights advocators will share their knowledge and experiences with the participants.

OSCE: Journalists Apply Auto-Censorship

OSCE: Journalists Apply Auto-Censorship

The OSCE Election Monitoring Delegation stated that the general elections on 12 June were done in a pluralistic and secure environment. The delegation criticized the 10-percent electoral threshold and urged the state to "establish a media distant of political pressure".

Azadiya Welat Newspaper Banned - Again

Azadiya Welat Newspaper Banned - Again

Azadiya Welat, the only nation-wide newspaper in Turkey publishing in Kurdish, has been banned for the duration of 15 days. This is the ninth publication ban for the daily. Its printing house in Diyarbakır was searched by the police.

Police Stop Journalist from Covering News

Police Stop Journalist from Covering News

The editor-in-chief of the Midyat Habur newspaper, Mehmet Halis İş, was stopped by the police when he took footage of an incident. The newspaper claimed that this sort of intervention became systematic in recent times.

Magazine Seized because of "Illegal Source" - Publication Suspended

Magazine Seized because of "Illegal Source" - Publication Suspended

The first two issues of the Özgür Halk ve Demokratik Modernite magazine were seized. The publication was suspended twice and a Diyarbakır court decided to confiscate all copies under allegations of "propaganda for an illegal organization".

13 June 2011 Çiçek Tahaoğlu

BİA Media Monitoring Report 2011 First Quarter - Full Text

BİA Media Monitoring Report 2011 First Quarter - Full Text

By 31 March, 5 journalists were in prison for their writings, another 42 press members in the context of operations like "Ergenekon" and other major trials and investigations. Within 3 months, 13 people were sentenced to monetary fines and almost 22 years in jail on the grounds of their opinions on the Kurdish question.

10 June 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

PM Erdoğan: "Media provokes"

PM Erdoğan: "Media provokes"

Prime Minister Erdoğan gave an account on topics such as press freedom, internet censorship, military service and the recent incidents in Hopa in the course of a Q&A session with journalists in a broadcast of CNN Türk.

MP Candidate Diçle Exempt from Elections Last Minute

MP Candidate Diçle Exempt from Elections Last Minute

Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block candidate Dicle will not be able to stand in the general elections on Sunday because a conviction decided by the Ankara 11th High Criminal Court in 2009 was finalized now. Mayor Güler was deposed from office for the same reason.

Beyoğlu Troupe Acquitted

Beyoğlu Troupe Acquitted

16 members of the Beyoğlu Troupe of Actors were acquitted of charges of "insult of a public official". The actors were sued by Prime Minister Erdoğan on the grounds of the lyrics of a song they performed.

RTÜK Reprimand for "Slang and Curses"

RTÜK Reprimand for "Slang and Curses"

The Radio and Television Supreme Council issued a warning to the series "Behzat Ç." because of "using poor Turkish and slang". The use of alcohol in the series was criticized too. Screenwriter Serbes said that the format of the series would not change.

9 June 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Journalist Convicted for News on PKK Leader

Journalist Convicted for News on PKK Leader

Journalist Atay from Batman was sentenced to jail for 1 month and 7 days for a news item about KCK leader Karayılan. "We were punished for a statement that was published by everybody", Atay criticized. News about Karayılan brought also other journalists to court.

9 June 2011 Ayça Söylemez

People of Hopa in Fear

People of Hopa in Fear

A report prepared by the two main Turkish human rights organizations, the Turkish Medical Association and a major national trade union centre gave an insight into the background and the aftermath of the massive police intervention in Hopa last week.

8 June 2011 Ayça Söylemez