RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 201

522 Unsolved Murders in Four Years

522 Unsolved Murders in Four Years

"Nobody who commits a crime gets away with it any more. Unsolved murders are not an issue", President Gül recently announced. The Turkish Human Rights Report 2010 prepared by TİHV draws a different picture. 522 unsolved murders were registered in the past four years.

12 April 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Compensation for Prime Minister

Compensation for Prime Minister

Journalist Bekir Coşkun and the Cumhuriyet newspaper were convicted of an "attack on the personal rights" of Prime Minister Erdoğan. They were sentenced to a monetary fine of TL 5,000 in compensation.

Detained Journalist Kılınç Sentenced to Six Years in Jail

Detained Journalist Kılınç Sentenced to Six Years in Jail

The Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court handed down a prison sentence of six years and nine months to journalist Ozan Kılıç, former concessionaire of the Azadiya Welat newspaper. Kılınç was charged with "spreading propaganda for an illegal organization".

Appeal against Arrest Dismissed for the Second Time

Appeal against Arrest Dismissed for the Second Time

An Istanbul court on duty rejected the appeal against the arrest of journalists Ahmet Şık and Nedim Şener for the second time. Another seven journalists, writers and book authors will remain in detention as well.

More than 28 Years in Jail on Hate Murder

More than 28 Years in Jail on Hate Murder

28-year-old transsexual İrem Okan was killed with 44 stabs with a knife in Bursa last year. Her murderer, Emrah Şen, confessed the offence and was now sentenced to imprisonment of 28 years and four months.

Officials Claim Lack of Information - Defendants Do not Remember

Officials Claim Lack of Information - Defendants Do not Remember

The disclosure of the "Storm" plan gave a new twist to the Bayrampaşa trial on the "Return to Life" operation. The then Minister of Justice Türk and the former Prisons General Manager Ertosun said they were not informed about the plan. The defendants claimed not to remember anything.

Azadiya Welat Newspaper Writer Kılıç Arrested

Azadiya Welat Newspaper Writer Kılıç Arrested

Journalist Deniz Kılıç from the Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper was sentenced to more than two years in prison for his statements made on Roj TV. He had already served ten months in prison. Now he was arrested again to serve the remaining sentence.

On Trial for Commemorating Deceased Communist

On Trial for Commemorating Deceased Communist

24 people are on trial in Bursa on charges of "praising a criminal" because they commemorated communist Kaypakkaya. Several NGOs and political parties protested the trials questioning, "Killing somebody by torture is not a crime but it is a crime to commemorate revolutionists?"

Turkey Convicted of Restricting Defence in Kurdish

Turkey Convicted of Restricting Defence in Kurdish

The ECHR saw a violation of the right to a fair trial in the case of Sultan Şaman who was not allowed to see a lawyer or a translator when she was in police custody. Şaman was convicted of "membership in the PKK" by a domestic court. Turkey has to pay € 1,800 in compensation.

Prime Suspect Samast: 'The Headlines are Guilty, not Me'

Prime Suspect Samast: 'The Headlines are Guilty, not Me'

In a letter written to court, triggerman suspect of the Dink murder, Ogün Samast, stated, "I am not guilty. Guilty are the headlines that showed Dink as a traitor". Dink family lawyer Belen commented, "Samast talked with the voice of the ones who instigated him to this murder".

Lawyers Apply for Release of Journalist Şık

Lawyers Apply for Release of Journalist Şık

The joint attorneys of arrested journalist Şık applied to the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court for the release of their client. At the same time, they submitted a petition to the Ministry of the Interior to overturn the decision for the seizure of Şık's unpublished book "for the benefit of the law".

"Freedom from Expression" - Part of Daily Routine in Turkey

"Freedom from Expression" - Part of Daily Routine in Turkey

"We argue that freedom from expression has always been an integral part of our daily lives and seems to become much more so in near future" say Volkan Yılmaz, a Turkish PHD at the University of Leeds (UK) and Sinan Eden from the Bosporus University.

"Constitutional Court Conformity Bill" Approved

"Constitutional Court Conformity Bill" Approved

Lawyers warn that the newly enforced right to individual applications to the Constitutional Court will prolong applications to the European Court of Human Rights. Lawyer Cinmen argued that the Constitutional Court will not be able to handle the flood of trials.

1 April 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Journalist Özer Sentenced to 1.5 Years in Jail

Journalist Özer Sentenced to 1.5 Years in Jail

The Istanbul 9th High Criminal Court handed down a 1.5-year prison sentence to journalist Aziz Özer. He was convicted of "making propaganda for an illegal organization" based on an article and a caricature.

Journalist Pelek still in the Dock for "Editorship"

Journalist Pelek still in the Dock for "Editorship"

Journalist Pelek gave her statement in the trial filed against her and journalist Dolu on the grounds of having published General Fırtına's statement at the prosecution related to the Ergenekon investigation. The case was postponed to August.

1 April 2011 Emir Çelik

"Imam's Army" Leaked to the Internet

"Imam's Army" Leaked to the Internet

The full manuscript of the unpublished book of arrested journalist Ahmet Şık was leaked to the internet despite a court decision that banned the publication of the book. According to journalist Engin, the posted version is identical with the draft previously sent to him by author Şık.

Wave of International Concern Continues

Wave of International Concern Continues

Concern about press freedom in Turkey was now also expressed in a joint statement by the European Turkish Journalists Association, the German Journalists Union and the European Federation of Journalists. "Press freedom in Turkey is under threat", the organizations said.

Procedures in Trabzon Put on Hold

Procedures in Trabzon Put on Hold

The cases related to the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink tried in Trabzon at the 1st High Criminal Court and the 2nd Magistrate Criminal Court were continued. The criminal court will wait for the prosecutor's opinion on a merger of the cases; the magistrate court will wait for the high court's decision accordingly.

PM Erdoğan Sues out Compensation Fine from Kurdish Politician

PM Erdoğan Sues out Compensation Fine from Kurdish Politician

Politician Kaplan was convicted of an "attack of the personal rights" of Prime Minister Erdoğan and has to pay TL 6,000 in compensation. Kaplan announced to appeal and go as far as the ECHR if necessary: "My words remained within the limits of freedom of thought", he claimed.

"Women Complicit with Rapists" - Part of Academic Freedom?

"Women Complicit with Rapists" - Part of Academic Freedom?

Prof. Orhan Çeker shocked several sections of the Turkish public last February by saying that women were complicit with rapists by provoking them with low-cut dresses. It was now decided not to launch an investigation about the university professor.

Police Raid on Lawyers of Journalist Şık Considered Legal

Police Raid on Lawyers of Journalist Şık Considered Legal

The Istanbul 12th High Criminal Court rejected the lawyers' appeal against the seizure of material related to an unpublished book of arrested journalist Ahmet Şık. According to the court, the decision was legal. The Turkish Union of Bar Associations criticized the seizure.

BİA 2010 Media Monitoring Report: Defendants Name by Name

Read here a list of journalists, writers, politicians and media institutions that were tried in 2010 on charges related to freedom of thought and expression. This list was compiled according to the annual report of 2010 prepared by the BİA Media Monitoring Desk.

29 March 2011 Erol Önderoğlu,Emir Çelik

Decision of PM's Trial against Beyoğlu Troupe Expected Soon

Decision of PM's Trial against Beyoğlu Troupe Expected Soon

The case against 16 members of the Beyoğlu Troupe of Actors, comprised by university students, is still pending. A decision is expected at the coming hearing in May. The defendants are facing imprisonment of up to two years each.

Court of Appeals Insisted on Compensation Fine for Orhan Pamuk

Court of Appeals Insisted on Compensation Fine for Orhan Pamuk

The Court of Appeals insisted on a compensation fine for writer Pamuk after a local court had dropped procedures twice. Pamuk has to pay a fine of TL 6,000 in total because of a statement made to a Swiss newspaper in 2005.

Witnesses to be Brought to Court on Compulsion after 4 Years

Witnesses to be Brought to Court on Compulsion after 4 Years

The Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court accepted the plaintiff lawyers' request to re-investigate the TÜBİTAK report on the allegedly missing footage of the Hrant Dink murder. Witnesses Çakmak and Yıldırım will be brought to court on compulsion at the next hearing on 30 May.

29 March 2011 Erol Önderoğlu,Elif Gençkal

Legal Landscape of 2010 Dominated by Anti-Terror Law

Legal Landscape of 2010 Dominated by Anti-Terror Law

According to data compiled by the BİA Media Monitoring Report, 220 people, 104 of whom were journalists, stood trial in 2010 in the scope of freedom of thought and expression. 33 people were sentenced to 365 years in prison under the Anti-Terror Law. 30 journalists are in jail.

28 March 2011 Erol Önderoğlu,Emir Çelik

Facebook Apologized to Journalist Çakır - Group Re-Opened

Facebook Apologized to Journalist Çakır - Group Re-Opened

The Facebook Turkey team apologized to journalist Çakır for closing down his account and the "Homology" group he administers "by mistake". Access to another group that called on Minister Kavaf to resign is still blocked.

28 March 2011 Burçin Belge

Kurdish Musician Tunç Tried for Saying "Guerrilla"

Kurdish Musician Tunç Tried for Saying "Guerrilla"

After more than a hundred cases were opened against Kurdish folk singer Tunç, he is now facing charges of "propaganda for an illegal organization" for using the term "guerrilla". Tunç sees this kind of trials as a means of intimidation. The case will start in May.

28 March 2011 Ekin Karaca

Aysel Tuğluk Still Facing Dozens of Years in Prison

Aysel Tuğluk Still Facing Dozens of Years in Prison

Trials against Kurdish politicians Aysel Tuğluk and Ahmet Türk, Co-Chairs of the Democratic Society Congress, are still pending in Ankara and Diyarbakır. Tuğluk is facing 70 years behind bars in the Diyarbakır trial and another five years from the Ankara procedures.

25 March 2011 Emir Çelik

Police Raid at Radikal Daily for Unpublished Book

Police Raid at Radikal Daily for Unpublished Book

The police searched the offices of Radikal newspaper for copies of the manuscript of detained journalist Şık's book "The Imam's Army". Also Şık's wife and his lawyer were ordered to hand over drafts of the book. Publishers and writers associations condemned the raid; lawyer Cinmen called it "unlawful".

Journalist and Human Rights Defender Convicted

Journalist and Human Rights Defender Convicted

Human rights advocator Hakan Tahmaz received a one-year prison sentence, journalist İbrahim Çeşmecioğlu a monetary fine for the interview with Murat Karayılan, leader of the Union of Kurdistan Communities.

25 March 2011 Emir Çelik

Sit-Down Strike of Kurdish People in Diyarbakır

Sit-Down Strike of Kurdish People in Diyarbakır

The Foreign Affairs Department of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party issued a press release on their sit-down strike in Diyarbakır, a Kurdish-majority city in south-eastern Turkey.