RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 208

Kurdish Politician Tuğluk Facing 75 Years in Jail

Kurdish Politician Tuğluk Facing 75 Years in Jail

The Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk is facing 75 years in jail on charges of "spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization" in twelve different speeches made between 2005 and 2010.

17 December 2010 Burçin Belge

Two-Year Prison Threat for Egg Throwing

Two-Year Prison Threat for Egg Throwing

State Minister Bağış sued a student for throwing an egg at him. The 21-year-old student is facing imprisonment of up to 2 years. The first hearing is scheduled fo 10 February.

16 December 2010 Burçin Belge

Students Stay 5 more Months in Prison for Posting Banner

Students Stay 5 more Months in Prison for Posting Banner

"We want free education, and we'll get it" was written on the banner posted by university students Tüzer and Yılmaz who have not been released in the second hearing of the related trial. 2 other students were taken into custody because they protested the court's decision.

16 December 2010 Berivan Tapan

Kurdish in Parliament Potential Reason for Shutting down BDP

Kurdish in Parliament Potential Reason for Shutting down BDP

When President Gül was asked about BDP members speaking Kurdish in parliament, he replied that according to the current legislation this was a potential reason to shut down the Peace and Democracy Party.

16 December 2010 Burçin Belge

Policeman on Trial is Lost...

Policeman on Trial is Lost...

The second hearing of the case regarding the attack of a police officer Aktaş against a journalist Özhan revealed that the policeman was appointed to a different province in the meantime. Video footage shall be acquired until the next hearing in half a year's time.

16 December 2010 Berivan Tapan

Beginning of "Sledgehammer" Coup Plan Trial

Beginning of "Sledgehammer" Coup Plan Trial

The first hearing of the "Sledgehammer" Coup Plan Trial is being heard today in Istanbul. 196 defendants, among them high-ranked military officers, are tried in the scope of case. They are facing imprisonment of 15-20 years each.

16 December 2010 Berivan Tapan

Policeman Tried for Beating Journalist

Policeman Tried for Beating Journalist

Police officer Tuncay Aktaş is on trial because of beating journalist Ozan Özhan. He is charged with "actual bodily harm". The trial is being continued on 15 December at the Beyoğlu 2nd Magistrate Criminal Court.

15 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

ÇYDD and ÇEV Accused of Indexing Thousands of People

ÇYDD and ÇEV Accused of Indexing Thousands of People

The indictment on the Support for Modern Life Association and the Contemporary Education Foundation revealed the organizations' connections to terrorist organizations. Both associations were searched in the scope of the "Ergenekon" investigation.

15 December 2010 Burçin Belge

New Judges for "Sledgehammer" Coup Case and Dink Murder Trial

New Judges for "Sledgehammer" Coup Case and Dink Murder Trial

The president judges of the "Sledgehammer" Coup Plan trial and of the Hrant Dink murder trial were reassigned. The decision of the Supreme Court of Judges and Prosecutors came just 2 days before the first hearing of the "Sledgehammer" trial.

15 December 2010 Berivan Tapan

RTÜK Reprimands NTV for Surreptitious Advertising

RTÜK Reprimands NTV for Surreptitious Advertising

RTÜK issued a reprimand to NTV for restaurant owner Güler's statement in a food program. He said, "The wines made mainly from the Nebiole grape variety and from our Boğazkarası grapes are of good quality in my opinion". RTÜK member Alp opposed the vote.

14 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Writer Nevin Berktaş Convicted - Deduction Dismissed

Writer Nevin Berktaş Convicted - Deduction Dismissed

Writer Nevin Berktaş received a ten-month prison sentence because of her book on her time in prison. Due to a mistake, she had previously been imprisoned for more than 5 years too long. Her request to take this time into account accordingly was dismissed. She filed an appeal.

14 December 2010 Burçin Belge

"Taraf" Newspaper Writers under Protest

"Taraf" Newspaper Writers under Protest

Taraf newspaper writer Margulies was attacked with eggs and paint bags in a panel discussion in Çanakkale. A panel discussion with journalists Baransu and Uslu had to be interrupted and cancelled because of a quarrel in the audience.

14 December 2010 Emir Çelik

37 Trials against Taraf Newspaper in One Day

37 Trials against Taraf Newspaper in One Day

Taraf newspaper writer Neşe Düzel is litigated over an interview with M.Ş. Gençdal, spokesman of a group of the Quandil group that entered Turkey last year upon the call of imprisoned PKK leader Öcalan. Düzel is facing prison terms.

13 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Defendants Insist on Defence in Their Mother Tongue

Defendants Insist on Defence in Their Mother Tongue

The 23 defendants tired for their alleged membership of the MLKP communist party insisted on presenting their defence in Kurdish as their mother tongue but the court refused permission. Defendant Çelebi claimed that the detention period of 4 years turned into torture.

13 December 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

Trial Procedures Jammed - Again

Trial Procedures Jammed - Again

Almost 4 years after the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink, the court is still evaluating the request for a joint plaintiff status of the Dink family lawyers. The Trabzon High Criminal Court is waiting for defendant Öz's lawyer, the Magistrate Court awaits the High Court's decision on merging the files.

10 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

NGOs Condemn Police Violence against Students

NGOs Condemn Police Violence against Students

Tores Dinçöz from the Union of Architects and Engineers criticized university rectors for not showing any reaction on the recent clashes between students and police forces. The TTB Women Physicians condemned the killing of an unborn baby. İHD spoke of "inhumane torture".

10 December 2010 Berivan Tapan

The Potential Advantage of Bilingualism for Turkey

The Potential Advantage of Bilingualism for Turkey

The Initiative for Reforms in Education underlined the need for research and preparation regarding "Bilingual Education". The perception of languages needs to be changed and primary education should be improved urgently, the initiative claimed.

10 December 2010 Emir Çelik

Police Officers Sued, Prime Minister Condemned

Police Officers Sued, Prime Minister Condemned

Lawyer Kabataş filed a complaint against the police on behalf of the Students Youth Union members who were exposed to police violence in the course of a protest in Istanbul on 5 December. Several organizations condemned the incident.

9 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

2 Journalists and 2 Interviewees Tried in Batman

2 Journalists and 2 Interviewees Tried in Batman

Batman Post executive Çelik is indicted for an interview with the family of PKK member Korkmaz who was killed in 1986. Journalist Atay from the Batman newspaper is tried for publishing a PKK announcement regarding an explosion in Batman that killed 4 rights activists.

9 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Berivan Eker Remains in Prison

Journalist Berivan Eker Remains in Prison

The prosecutor of the Diyarbakır 6th High Criminal Court demands prison terms of up to 21years for Berivan Eker, former chief editor of the Renge Heviya Jine magazine. If the court dismisses the appeal against her detention, Eker will be in prison till 25 January 2011.

9 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Writer Akhanlı Released Pending Trial

Writer Akhanlı Released Pending Trial

Writer Akhanlı was released pending trial in the first hearing after 113 days in detention. Akanlı was arrested this August when he entered Turkey from his home country Germany because of his alleged involvement in an armed robbery 21 years ago.

9 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Sel Publishing Acquitted of "Obscenity" Charges

Sel Publishing Acquitted of "Obscenity" Charges

Publisher Sancı and interpreter Yerguz were acquitted even after the Prime Ministerial Board evaluated the three books on subject as "harming the public's sense of shame". An expert report by the Galatsaray University had previously assessed the books as "works of literature".

8 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Kurdish Mayor Yetişkin in Prison

Kurdish Mayor Yetişkin in Prison

Ruken Yetişmiş, Mayor of Yüksekova in south-eastern Turkey, went to jail after the 6-month postponement of her sentence elapsed on 5 December. She will probably be released after 7 months and 10 days. The Kurdish politician considers her sentence a "political" punishment.

8 December 2010 Emir Çelik

Court Insists on Detentions

Court Insists on Detentions

No further releases were decided in the third hearing of the "Revolutionary Headquarters" trial. Customs officer Öncü and Captain Öztürk have been detained for 18 months now and will remain in prison for another 5 months until the next hearing on 12 April.

8 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Günter Wallraff and Turkish Writers Support Indicted Author

Günter Wallraff and Turkish Writers Support Indicted Author

The German author Günter Wallraff will be one of the observers at the trial against Erdoğan Akhanlı who has been detained for 5 months because of an armed robbery allegedly committed on behalf o an illegal organization in 1989. Wallraff supports Akhanlı who is facing a life sentence.

8 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Cyprus On Track to Decriminalize Homosexuality

Cyprus On Track to Decriminalize Homosexuality

International and local non-governmental organizations took an important step for the recognition of freedom for homosexual individuals in Cyprus. President of the Northern Cyprus Assembly Bozer promised to amend the laws that define homosexuality as a crime.

7 December 2010 Berivan Tapan

Students Protest Ends in Riot

Students Protest Ends in Riot

The police violently intervened against students who had gathered to protest the Higher Education Council (YÖK) during PM Erdoğan's meeting with university rectors. The students were exposed to tear gas and beating. 40 of them were taken into custody but released later on.

7 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu,Erhan Üstündağ,Berivan Tapan

And Another Turkish Journalist in Jail...

And Another Turkish Journalist in Jail...

Berivan Eker, former editor-in-chief of the Renge Heviya Jine women magazine, was arrested on 5 December. Her predecessors Gurbet Çakar, Sultan Sonsuz, Ruken Aktaş and Sibel Esmer are either convicted or facing prison terms.

7 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Starting Point of a New Class Order?

Starting Point of a New Class Order?

Assoc. Prof. Adaklı from Ankara University believes that initiatives like WikiLeaks could influence the "establishment of a new class order of the oppressed". She describes WikiLeaks founder Assange as the "Napoleon of our times".

6 December 2010 Berivan Tapan

Turkey and Balkans Should Join Efforts in Struggle for Rights

Turkey and Balkans Should Join Efforts in Struggle for Rights

The lack of co-operation between countries in south-eastern Europe was deplored at the round table meeting of the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner on rights organizations in Turkey and the Balkans as well as at SEEMO's 4th Media Forum.

6 December 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Intellectuals Condemn Death Threat against Kurdish Politician

Intellectuals Condemn Death Threat against Kurdish Politician

Renowned Turkish and Kurdish writers, journalists, academics and artists initiated a signature campaign to protest the death threat voiced by an armed wing of the PKK against Kurdish politician Orhan Miroğlu.

6 December 2010 Berivan Tapan

Verdict against Torture in Police Custody

Verdict against Torture in Police Custody

The ECHR called on Turkey for the implementation of the Istanbul Protocol and the principles as defined by the CPT. The court sentenced Turkey to a €12,000 fine in compensation for Musa Doğan who applied to the international court because of ill-treatment in custody.

3 December 2010 Erhan Üstündağ