RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 206

Another Obstacle Prevents Progress in Hrant Dink Case

Another Obstacle Prevents Progress in Hrant Dink Case

The Trabzon Chief Prosecution revoked the decision of the Rize High Criminal Court to launch an investigation about Trabzon Chief of Police Reşat Altay initiated to determine who was actually responsible for the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink.

26 January 2011

Journalist Saymaz' s Toll: 107-year Prison Threat

Journalist Saymaz' s Toll: 107-year Prison Threat

Journalist Saymaz is yet facing two more trials on the grounds of his book "The postmodern Jihad" and a news item on the Courthouse in Sultanbeyli. He is charged with "identifying officials on anti-terror duties as a target" and "defamation, insult, and influencing the judiciary" respectively.

26 January 2011 Emir Çelik

Conscientious Objector's Relatives Also Persecuted

Conscientious Objector's Relatives Also Persecuted

Five people stand trial in Eskişehir on charges of "alienating the public from military service" on the grounds of their support for conscientious objector Enver Aydemir. Aydemir's father and his lawyer are among the defendants.

25 January 2011 Emir Çelik

Local Journalist Shot and Wounded

Local Journalist Shot and Wounded

Uşak.tv news site owner Şen was shot at in front of his home. He was injured at his legs. The attacker was arrested. Şen commented, "It is not important who did this but who made him do this".

25 January 2011 Emir Çelik

Mumcu's Relatives Urge for Punishment of Offical Neglect

Mumcu's Relatives Urge for Punishment of Offical Neglect

18 years after the murder of journalist Uğur Mumcu, his family applied to the prosecution to identify and punish the ones responsible for the murder. They demand to punish "the officials who neglected the investigation and the prosecution of the real perpetrators".

25 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu,Burçin Belge

Football Fans and Unionists Booed Prime Minister

Football Fans and Unionists Booed Prime Minister

3,000 people - supporters of different football clubs and union members - booed PM Erdoğan at the opening ceremony of the Galatasaray football stadium and a few days later at a demonstration that was organized to express criticism against the PM's attitude.

24 January 2011 Elif Gençkal

PM Erdoğan's Trial against "Beyoğlu Troupe" Started

PM Erdoğan's Trial against "Beyoğlu Troupe" Started

At the first hearing of the case filed by PM Erdoğan against 16 university students of the Beyoğlu Troupe of Actors, witness Güçbilmez from the AKP stated, "I did not actually hear the song but I was told about it". The trial was adjourned to 25 March.

24 January 2011 Emir Çelik

Complainant Missing in Trial against Journalist and Rights Defender

Complainant Missing in Trial against Journalist and Rights Defender

Prof. Birgen, chair of the Institute for Forensic Medicine 3rd Specialization Chamber, failed again to appear at court for the 6th hearing of the case she filed against TİHV President Fincancı and journalist Yarkadaş on the grounds of the contents of an interview.

24 January 2011 Elif Gençkal

Judicial Front Runners: Special Authority Courts in Diyarbakır

Judicial Front Runners: Special Authority Courts in Diyarbakır

Three Special Authority High Criminal Courts in Diyarbakır occupy the top three places regarding the number of files decided throughout the past year in Turkey. These courts try important cases such as the KCK trial or the Hezbollah case. They handed prison sentences of several hundred years to Kurdish journalists.

21 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Still Pursuing Justice Four Years after Dink Murder

Still Pursuing Justice Four Years after Dink Murder

"No justice in 4 years" was one of the messages on the signs carried by thousands of people commemorating assassinated Turkish-Armenian journalist Harnt Dink on the fourth anniversary of his death.

20 January 2011

Demonstrating Children still Facing Prison Sentences

Demonstrating Children still Facing Prison Sentences

Lawyer and rights defender Akço draws attention to the persisting problem of children on trial even after their release from prison due to a legal amendment in 2010. Akço demands an amendment of Article 31 of the TCK to solve the situation.

20 January 2011 Erhan Üstündağ

Laws Designed to Try Dissidents and Journalists?

Laws Designed to Try Dissidents and Journalists?

Journalists Atay and Çelik are tried over charges of "praising crime and a criminal" for news related to members of the KCK and PKK. Journalists Düzel and Demir are prosecuted under the Anti-Terror Law. "Violation of secrecy" is another popular reason to sue journalists.

20 January 2011 Emir Çelik

Concerns about Truth behind Dink Murder Persist

Concerns about Truth behind Dink Murder Persist

On the fourth anniversary of the murder of Hrant Dink, thousands of people are expected to gather in several cities all over the country to commemorate the Turkish-Armenian journalist. In Istanbul, people will gather in front of the Agos newspaper where Dink was killed.

19 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu,Erhan Üstündağ

"No Microphone for Defence in Kurdish"

"No Microphone for Defence in Kurdish"

Also the 17th hearing of the KCK case was jammed on the court's refusal to permit a defence in Kurdish. Defence lawyers Beştaş and Aktar argued that the court's resistance to the Kurdish language became a meaningless trig. They demand the release of the defendants.

19 January 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Journalist Yılmaz Attacked Twice in Three Months

Journalist Yılmaz Attacked Twice in Three Months

Journalist Yılmaz was apparently attacked by bodyguards of the Mayor of Esenyurt (Istanbul). This is the second attack against Yılmaz in three months. At the same time, 80 attendants of an Alevi press release in Antalya are facing prosecution.

19 January 2011 Emir Çelik

PM Erdoğan Brings Writer Altan to Trial

PM Erdoğan Brings Writer Altan to Trial

After PM Erdoğan launched court cases against author Ataol Behramoğlu, journalist Oktay Ekşi and members of the Beyoğlu Troupe of Actors, he now also pressed a heavy compensation claim against journalist Ahmet Altan from Taraf newspaper.

19 January 2011 Emir Çelik

Cashman: "Double Standards Lead to Double Misery"

Cashman: "Double Standards Lead to Double Misery"

LGBT rights advocator Cashman criticized that access to correct information on LGBT individuals was restricted. "This conveys the message of a second class life to young LGBT individuals", he argued. "The struggle for equality is a struggle for all of us".

18 January 2011 Emir Çelik

Dink Family Demand New Investigation

Dink Family Demand New Investigation

The family of slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink requested a new investigation to apply the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights to domestic law. They submitted a petition to the prosecution and requested to investigate 28 officers from the Police and Gendarmerie in Trabzon and Istanbul.

18 January 2011 Ayça Söylemez

"Granting Rights to Kurds will Strengthen Unity"

"Granting Rights to Kurds will Strengthen Unity"

At the "Conference on the Meaning of Turkish-Kurdish Brotherhood", academic Çoşkun emphasized that granting rights to Kurds would strengthen unity rather than weakening it. MHP Deputy Karakaş called for the development of neglected Kurdish-majority regions.

17 January 2011 Elif Gençkal

Journalist Şener Reveals Crucial Information on Dink Murder

Journalist Şener Reveals Crucial Information on Dink Murder

Two police officials told the court in 2008 that they did not have any information about Dink being threatened before his assassination. The latest book published by journalist Nedim Şener reveals documents that prove those statements wrong.

17 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

No Decision on Release of "KCK" Defendants

No Decision on Release of "KCK" Defendants

The 16th hearing of the KCK trial against 151 defendants did not bring any new decisions. The request for a defence in Kurdish was dismissed once more. None of the 104 detained defendants was released. The trial was postponed to 18 January.

17 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

"RTÜK Draft Bill Opposes Constitution"

"RTÜK Draft Bill Opposes Constitution"

Communications lawyer İlkiz criticized the RTÜK draft bill: "The government cannot intervene against radio and television broadcasts. The provision should be lifted. It will cause illegal applications".

14 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Trial against Lawyer Rişvanoğlu Postponed again

Trial against Lawyer Rişvanoğlu Postponed again

Lawyer Rişvanoğlu, tried for his statements made on Roj TV, was represented by 28 lawyers in the hearing on 11 January. The case was adjourned once more to wait for an expert report. The Adana Branch of the Contemporary Lawyers Association harshly criticized the trial.

14 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Static Procedures - Dynamic Protest

Static Procedures - Dynamic Protest

The Diyarbakır 6th High Criminal Court held the 15th hearing of the KCK trial on 13 January. The court reiterated its decision against the defence of the 151 defendants in Kurdish. The request to release the 104 detained defendants was postponed to today.

14 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu,Ertuğrul Kürkçü

SDP and ÖDP Members to be Transferred to another Prison?

SDP and ÖDP Members to be Transferred to another Prison?

The 13 members of the legal organizations SDP and TÖP might be transferred to another prison for "security" reasons. They were detained more than 3 months ago in the scope of the "Revolutionary Headquarters" investigation. Lawyer Tuncer demands an official reasoning if the rumour should be confirmed.

13 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Politicians Sue Journalists, Writers and Illustrators

Politicians Sue Journalists, Writers and Illustrators

The trial against the Beyoğlu Troupe opened upon the complaint of PM Erdoğan will start on 21 January. Journalist Ekşi is also facing prosecution. At the same time, CHP Deputy Mengü complained about the cartoon book "The young Mustafa" on the life of Mustafa Atatürk.

13 January 2011 Emir Çelik

RTÜK: "Magnificent Century" Series Clashes with "Moral Values"

RTÜK: "Magnificent Century" Series Clashes with "Moral Values"

RTÜK issued a warning to Show TV on the grounds of the series "Magnificent Century". The series about the life of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent went on air on 6 January. It is alleged to be "contrary to the national and moral values of the society", RTÜK said.

13 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Lawyer Tanrıkulu Sued for "Influencing Judiciary"

Lawyer Tanrıkulu Sued for "Influencing Judiciary"

The Siverek High Criminal Court will prosecute former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Tanrıkulu on the grounds of his criticism of the Diyarbakır Military Court. The court had decreed for a lack of jurisdiction for the JİTEM case and the release of a defendant.

12 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Orhan Seeks Protection

Journalist Orhan Seeks Protection

Journalist Orhan, General Publications Director of the Değişim Media Group and owner of the www.ereglininsesi.com website, filed a complaint because he was allegedly threatened after writing news and comments about Mayor Posbıyık. Orhan applied for protection.

12 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Referendum on "Bilingualism"?

Referendum on "Bilingualism"?

In a meeting of the Turkish small National Assembly, Kurdish politician Alınak called on the government to hold a referendum on bilingualism (Turkish/Kurdish). Members of the CHP and MHP opposition parties did not attend the meeting.

11 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

"Freedom and Security for Press Workers"

"Freedom and Security for Press Workers"

On the Working Journalists Day on 10 January, the Freedom for Journalists Platform demanded to release detained journalists and lift government applications that obstruct press freedom. Journalist Şener argued that "pressure of journalists against journalists should be revealed".

11 January 2011 Emir Çelik,Serkan Demir

"Organized" Intolerance against "Magnificent Century" Series

"Organized" Intolerance against "Magnificent Century" Series

After a statement of Deputy PM Arınç against the series "Magnificent Century", members of the Felicity Party protested in front of the Show TV building. MHP members demanded to cancel the series. The history advisor and scriptwriter do not agree with the reactions.

11 January 2011 Erhan Üstündağ