RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 198

3-Day Vigil in the Heart of Istanbul

3-Day Vigil in the Heart of Istanbul

University students will start a three-day vigil in Istanbul on Wednesday. They demonstrate against unemployment and sordid business in politics. The young people invite everybody who agrees with the criticism to join and make their voices heard.

8 June 2011 Ekin Karaca

12 Demonstrators Arrested, 3 Criminal Complaints against Police

12 Demonstrators Arrested, 3 Criminal Complaints against Police

A total of twelve people were arrested and imprisoned after the anti-government demonstrations in Hopa on 31 May. Three protestors in Ankara filed criminal complaints on the grounds of serious injuries suffered during the police intervention.

7 June 2011 Ekin Karaca,Ayça Söylemez

Two Female Journalists Attacked

Two Female Journalists Attacked

In a written statement, the Association of Turkish condemned the verbal and physical violence experienced by Milliyet newspaper writer Nuray Mert and Cumhuriyet newspaper reporter Pelin Ünker.

Greenpeace Activists Taken in Custody During PM's Meeting

Greenpeace Activists Taken in Custody During PM's Meeting

3 Greenpeace activists were taken into custody after posting banners against nuclear power at a meeting of PM Erdoğan. They were released a few hours later. The activists encountered negative reactions by women at the meeting even before the police intervened.

6 June 2011 Ekin Karaca

Reporting - a Crime? Journalists Şener, Çakkalkurt and Usta at Court

Reporting - a Crime? Journalists Şener, Çakkalkurt and Usta at Court

Journalist Şener and former Milliyet newspaper Editor-in-Chief stand trial on charges of "violation of communication" based on an article about a dubious "black bag". Journalist Usta is tried because of news about the Sledgehammer Investigation.

6 June 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Six Protestors Arrested after Unrest in Hopa

Six Protestors Arrested after Unrest in Hopa

Six people were arrested after demonstrations related to Prime Minister Erdoğan's visit to Hopa. Ten people were released. A total of 31 protesters were taken into police custody during the anti-government demonstrations on 31 May.

Lawyer Tanay: Torture at Istanbul Police Station

Lawyer Tanay: Torture at Istanbul Police Station

Lawyer Tanay announced that he filed a criminal complaint about the people responsible for the torture of three of his clients in a police vehicle and in custody. The torture allegations are documented by photographs taken before his clients were arrested.

3 June 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Journalist Attacked while Covering Prime Minister's Visit

Journalist Attacked while Covering Prime Minister's Visit

Journalist Ahmet Yukuş from the Habertürk newspaper was apparently beaten by the bodyguards of Prime Minister Erdoğan in Diyarbakır. He received a three-day sick certificate. The journalist does not consider taking legal steps.

3 June 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Istanbul and Izmir under Clouds of Tear Gas

Istanbul and Izmir under Clouds of Tear Gas

The recent police intervention in Hopa fuelled protests in Izmir and Istanbul after demonstrators had already made their voices heard in Ankara. Again, the massive use of tear gas caused a heart attack. Several people were beaten and taken into police custody.

3 June 2011 Ekin Karaca,Haluk Kalafat

Six Months' Imprisonment for Colonel Öz and Captain Yıldız

Six Months' Imprisonment for Colonel Öz and Captain Yıldız

Colonel Ali Öz and Captain Metin Yıldız were sentenced to six months in jail on charges of negligence of duty prior to the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink. Another four defendants received prison terms of four months each, two defendants were acquitted.

ECHR Convicts Turkey Twice

ECHR Convicts Turkey Twice

The Turkish government is to pay applicant Derman € 43,000 in compensation due to ill-treatment in police custody, the European Court of Human Rights decreed. Applicant İçen will receive a compensation of € 15,000 because she was tried as a civilian at a military court.

Ankara: 54 Protestors in Police Custody, 1 Seriously Injured

Ankara: 54 Protestors in Police Custody, 1 Seriously Injured

A demonstration against massive police intervention in Hopa lead to another police intervention in Ankara that left one women with a broken hip and 54 protestors in police custody. Four people were released later on.

2 June 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Red Card from UN for Turkey's Water Policies

Red Card from UN for Turkey's Water Policies

The UN Economic, Social and Cultural Committee determined several violations of human rights by the construction of dams and hydroelectric power plants. The Committee called on the Turkish government to urgently review according laws and regulations.

Turkish Football Federation and Homosexual Referee Met at Court

Turkish Football Federation and Homosexual Referee Met at Court

Former referee Dinçdağ sued the Turkish Football Federation after he was sacked as a referee when his homosexuality was made public. Dinçdağ claims compensation for monetary and non-pecuniary damages. The next hearing will be on 20 October.

1 June 2011 Ilker Kılıç

Massive Police Intervention against Anti-AKP Demonstrators

Massive Police Intervention against Anti-AKP Demonstrators

Heavy clashes occurred between demonstrators and the police before and after a meeting of PM Erdoğan in Hopa in north-eastern Turkey. The police threw many gas bombs and made use of water cannons. One person died, many protestors and policemen were injured.

1 June 2011 Ekin Karaca

Journalist Şener Acquitted - Down to Nine

Journalist Şener Acquitted - Down to Nine

Arrested journalist Şener was acquitted of charges of "violation of confidentiality" and the "attempt to influence a fair trial". Another nine trials are pending against the journalist. He will be due to court again on 2 June.

1 June 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Footage Lost - Complaint about Head of Anti-Terror Branch

Footage Lost - Complaint about Head of Anti-Terror Branch

Witness Çakmakçı confirmed the previous statement of a secret witness saying that triggerman suspect Samast was accompanied by two individuals at the murder of journalist Dink. Footage of the incident can definitely not be restored.

31 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Unrest during Run-Up to Parliamentary Elections

Unrest during Run-Up to Parliamentary Elections

Supporters of independent candidates Emrullah Bingül and Levent Tüzel in Izmit and Istanbul were beaten and attacked with knives by members of a nationalist youth organization. Both candidates are affiliated with the Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block.

31 May 2011 Ekin Karaca

4 Years Later: Court Considers Additional Suspect

4 Years Later: Court Considers Additional Suspect

The court eventually decided to investigate who else was involved in the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink. Osman Hayal will be investigated. Cell phone records are requested from TİB and three GSM operators. The trial was postponed to 29 July.

31 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Criminal Enforcement Law Creates Isolation within Isolation

Criminal Enforcement Law Creates Isolation within Isolation

In a meeting organized by the İHD Prison Commission, attention was drawn to the negative effects of isolation cells on prisoners. Forensic medicine experts, lawyers and human rights defenders demanded the abrogation of Articles 16 and 25 of the law.

30 May 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Convicted for Threats against Local Newspaper

Convicted for Threats against Local Newspaper

The Tunceli Emek newspaper won their case against former Vice Director of the Tunceli National Education Department Çakmak and Samsun Municipality employee Erdoğan. At the same time, twelve trials are pending against the local daily.

30 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

20 Months to Jail for News on Kurdish Question

20 Months to Jail for News on Kurdish Question

Journalist Irmak Saadet was handed down prison sentences of a total of 20 months and monetary fines adding up to TL 18,140. The convictions were based on several articles and news items published in the Yeni Yorum magazine and the Ülkede Yorum newspaper.

30 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Advanced Democracy? Thanks, We just Need Democracy

Advanced Democracy? Thanks, We just Need Democracy

The "new constitution" issue has been dropped off from the ruling AK Party's agenda until the post-election period. Voters in Turkey do not have a clue as to why though. It seems that Turkey needs proper democracy in the first place, before looking for the advanced one.

27 May 2011 Burak Cop

"Decision for Internet Filter Should be Withdrawn Immediately"

"Decision for Internet Filter Should be Withdrawn Immediately"

Massive criticism on the internet filter system to be enforced on 22 August was voiced in a meeting on the matter at Bilgi University on 25 May. The participants demanded to withdraw the decision.

27 May 2011 Şahin Artan

Testimony of 'Secret Witness' Expected

Testimony of 'Secret Witness' Expected

In the context of the trial on the murder of journalist Hayırsevener, the Istanbul 10th Special Authority High Criminal Court decided to summon 24 witnesses to the coming hearing in October. A secret witness might be heard as well.

27 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Final Plea Expected for Coming Hearing

Final Plea Expected for Coming Hearing

The prosecutor is going to prepare his final plea in the case against murder suspect Ogün Samast for the coming hearing on 17 June. Samast stands accused of murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink; he described himself as a victim of circumstances.

26 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Poet's Criticism of Prime Minister 'Free of Charge'

Poet's Criticism of Prime Minister 'Free of Charge'

The compensation claim filed by PM Erdoğan against poet Beyramoğlu was dismissed by the Ankara 15th Civil Court of First Instance. The court decided that Beyramoğlu's criticism of the Prime Minister remained within the scope of freedom of thought.

23 People Taken into Police Custody in Adana

23 People Taken into Police Custody in Adana

23 people were taken into custody in the course of police operations on 25 May in Adana because they allegedly attended commemoration events for executed Turkish leftist revolutionaries.

26 May 2011 Ekin Karaca

Regularized Number Plates - The Latest Black List

Regularized Number Plates - The Latest Black List

After the list of "banned words" recently issued by the Telecommunication Communication Presidency, now a list of banned letter combinations for motorized vehicles came to the agenda.

Summit on Controversial Internet Filter System

Summit on Controversial Internet Filter System

On 25 May, the Internet Committee organizes a meeting with non-governmental organizations, public representatives and experts to discuss the much disputed internet filter system. The application is going to be enforced on 22 August.

25 May 2011 Ekin Karaca

Cyber Attack Spread to Yüksekova News Site

Cyber Attack Spread to Yüksekova News Site

The website of the Yüksekova News daily became the latest target for the time being in a series of cyber attacks on news wesites such as Birgün, bianet and Sol Haber.

Isolation Punishment for Conscientious Objector Executed

Isolation Punishment for Conscientious Objector Executed

The 20-day isolation punishment for conscientious objector İnan Süver on the grounds of "desertion" was executed as of 23 May. Süver resumed his hunger strike on 16 May as a sign of protest against his imprisonment.

24 May 2011 Ekin Karaca