RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 212

Three Prime Suspects Face Life Sentences

Three Prime Suspects Face Life Sentences

The trial related to the murder of journalist Hayırsevener who had reported about organized crime will start on 15 October. Three out of twelve defendants are facing life sentences, namely triggerman suspect Erakkuş, alleged instigator Kuruoğlu and defendant Yılmaz.

13 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Turkey Convicted for Revoking Licence of Nur Radio

Turkey Convicted for Revoking Licence of Nur Radio

The European Court of Human Rights found Turkey guilty of a violation of freedom of expression because of revoking the publishing licence of Nur Radio TV. RTÜK had annulled the license due to broadcasts supposedly opposing secularism and a pirate program.

13 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Decision on "Qandil Interview" Expected in December

Decision on "Qandil Interview" Expected in December

The case against human rights defender Tahmaz and Birgün newspaper official Çeşmecioğlu has reached its final stage. The defendants stand trial for an interview with PKK executives. The final verdict of the Istanbul 10th High Criminal Court is expected for 2 December.

13 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

State Gave no Answers to Questions on Hrant Dink Murder

State Gave no Answers to Questions on Hrant Dink Murder

"The "Friends of Hrant" initiative announced the results of their attempt to obtain information from the state regarding the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink. Spokesman Kıvanç criticized the meaningless replies and said, "The government is ridiculing us".

13 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Şahin Requested Recusal of Judge

Journalist Şahin Requested Recusal of Judge

Star newspaper employees Sarp, Akbıyık and Şahin are facing up to three years imprisonment each because of their criticism of the mass releases regarding the "Sledgehammer" investigation. The coming hearing is scheduled for 22 October.

12 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Conscientious Objector Süver Remains in Prison

Conscientious Objector Süver Remains in Prison

The Izmir Şirinyer Military Court dismissed the request for the release of conscientious objector İnan Süver. Süver is said to have been sentenced to imprisonment of 35 months. The case was adjourned to 15 November.

12 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Final Remarks - Istanbul 7th Gathering on Freedom of Speech

Final Remarks - Istanbul 7th Gathering on Freedom of Speech

"Everywhere in the world there are serious impediments to freedom of expression, and they often lead to severe punishment. We are very far from having reached the stage of a genuine democratic culture in which thought and expression are truly free. That remains a major task for the future, one with tremendous implications" said American philosopher Noam Chomsky.

12 October 2010 Noam Chomsky

Quo Vadis

Quo Vadis

At the 7th Istanbul Gathering for Freedom of Thought, political activist and philosopher Noam Chomsky stressed that political rights are not granted but won by a dedicated struggle. Turkey can be proud of defence of freedom of speech, "a record from which we can all learn", Chomsky said.

12 October 2010 Noam Chomsky

Journalist Öztürk Assaulted in Zonguldak

Journalist Öztürk Assaulted in Zonguldak

Mehmet Öztürk, owner of the Halk Posta newspaper from the Black Sea region, was attacked by unidentified individuals in front of his office. Şenol Azman, president of the local Journalists Association expects a clarification of the incident as soon as possible.

12 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

International Focus on Trial against journalists Şık and Mavioğlu

International Focus on Trial against journalists Şık and Mavioğlu

Ahmet Şık and Ertuğrul Mavioğlu, co-authors of two books about the Ergenekon investigation, were supported by human rights advocator Judith Chomsky and Çayan Demirel. Noam Chomsky missed the hearing on 8 October because his flight was delayed.

11 October 2010 Emir Çelik

Journalist Çakar Faces 20 Years in Jail

Journalist Çakar Faces 20 Years in Jail

The prosecution demanded imprisonment of 20 years for Gurbet Çakar, editorial manager of the Kurdish-Turkish Renge Heviya Jine women magazine. She is charged with spreading propaganda for the PKK and "committing a crime on behalf of the organization".

11 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

JİTEM Informant Aygan Testified in Sweden

JİTEM Informant Aygan Testified in Sweden

The Swedish Authorities took the statement of former PKK member-turned JİTEM employee Abdülkadir Aygan upon the directive of the Diyarbakır Public Prosecution. Aygan announced to issue a statement about former leading politicians Demirel and Ciller soon.

8 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Trial against Journalist Özer Reached Final Stage after First Hearing

Trial against Journalist Özer Reached Final Stage after First Hearing

Güney magazine official Özer is facing imprisonment of up to 7.5 years for depicting memories of a PKK member and because of a caricature. After the first hearing on 7 October, the trial was postponed to 17 February 2011 for the prosecutor's final speech.

8 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Monetary Fine for Publication Bans under Anti-Terror Law

Monetary Fine for Publication Bans under Anti-Terror Law

Once more, Turkey was sentenced by the European Court of Human Rights in a freedom of expression case. The state has to pay compensation to Erdal Ölmez and Ali Turgay, the owners of five Turkish magazines, because of unlawful restrictions of freedom of expression.

7 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Appeal against Arrests Dismissed

Appeal against Arrests Dismissed

The appeal against the arrest of members of the two legal political groups SDP and TÖP was rejected. 13 members had been arrested on 25 September. The SDP distanced themselves from Necdet Kılıç and Hanife Avcı and allegations of a supposed "escape" of Mahir Sayın.

7 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Baransu Acquitted in "Aktütün" Trial

Journalist Baransu Acquitted in "Aktütün" Trial

Taraf newspaper reporter Baransu was acquitted of charges of publishing "classified" documents regarding the raid on the Aktütün police station despite the prosecutor's plead for imprisonment. Baransu will now file a complaint against Generals Başbuğ and Iğsız.

7 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Prison Sentences for Commemorating 12-Year Old Kaymaz

Prison Sentences for Commemorating 12-Year Old Kaymaz

A Diyarbakır court convicted 6 defendants of "organizational propaganda" on the grounds of their commemorating Ahmet Kaymaz and his son Uğur who were killed by the police. One of the convicts is Uğur's uncle.

6 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

8 People Arrested in Urfa

8 People Arrested in Urfa

The BDP provincial co-chair is among 8 people arrested in Urfa on 5 October. Lawyer Benek stated the arrests were based on insignificant wiretapped telephone conversations. BDP MP Bininci said his party is being "terrorized".

6 October 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

Headscarf Ban at Universities Softened

Headscarf Ban at Universities Softened

The Higher Education Council partly lifted the controversial headscarf ban at universities. According to a circular sent by the Council, students may no longer be expelled from class because of their attire. Disciplinary proceedings will be taken against lecturers who do otherwise.

6 October 2010 Berivan Tapan,Semra Pelek

Video Sharing Site Vimeo.com Banned

Video Sharing Site Vimeo.com Banned

Three years after the access ban of YouTube, the video sharing site Vimeo.com was temporarily banned as well. The Telecommunication Communication Presidency blocked access for a few days upon a "protection decision" issued by the Ankara Public Chief Prosecution.

5 October 2010 Emir Çelik

Police Intervention in Trial against Journalist and TİHV Executive

Police Intervention in Trial against Journalist and TİHV Executive

Tensions rose high in the trial against Prof. Fincancı, Chair of the Turkish Human Rights Foundation, and journalist Yarkadaş. The lawyers discussed why complainant Birgen had not appeared at court for the third time. The hearing was canceled, a new date was not announced.

4 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

More than 1,000 Signatures to Drop Trial against Kurdish Singer

More than 1,000 Signatures to Drop Trial against Kurdish Singer

Singer Ferhat Tunç is facing imprisonment of up to15 years on the grounds of a speech made at a culture festival in the south-eastern province of Siirt. The international writers association PEN addressed the Prime Minister in regard to the case.

4 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Colonel Öz Tried at High Court after 3 Years

Colonel Öz Tried at High Court after 3 Years

A new case was opened against Colonel Öz, former Trabzon Gendarmerie Commander, under charges of "neglect of duty", this time at the Trabzon High Criminal Court. He is charged with the same allegations at the Magistrate Court. The Dink family lawyers demand to merge the trials at the High Court.

4 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Sixth Attack on Alevi Place of Worship

Sixth Attack on Alevi Place of Worship

An Alevi worship place in Izmir was attacked for the sixth time. A fire broke out which, according to the police, was caused by playing children. Ali Balkız, Head of the Alevi Bektashi Federation, said it was an attack by the "followers of sharia".

4 October 2010 Berivan Tapan

Publisher Zarakolu and Writer Güler on Trial for the next Book

Publisher Zarakolu and Writer Güler on Trial for the next Book

The trial against publisher Zarakolu and writer Güler on the grounds of the book "The KCK file/Global state and Kurds without a state" has started. Güler demanded to lift the ban of the book. The case was postponed to 2 December.

1 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Appeal against Arrests of SDP and TÖP Members

Appeal against Arrests of SDP and TÖP Members

The lawyers of ten members of the legal organizations SDP and TÖP appealed against the arrest of their clients. A total of 13 members of both legal political groups were arrested on 25 September. The Human Rights Association Istanbul filed a complaint against the Istanbul police.

1 October 2010 Emir Çelik

2 Journalists Harassed, 30 TAYAD Members in Police Custody

2 Journalists Harassed, 30 TAYAD Members in Police Custody

Members of the Solidarity Association of Prisoners' Families were attacked by nationalists in Ankara. Some group members were harassed because they were thought to be plainclothes police officers. The police took 30 association members into custody because of "resistance".

1 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

District Governor Sued out Censorship

District Governor Sued out Censorship

A local court in Çine imposed a publication ban on the Çine Uğur newspaper and an access block on the daily's website. The paper had reported about alleged corruption of the district governor. Publication director Sağlık criticized the decision and questioned press freedom.

1 October 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Court Will Hear Alleged "Founder of JITEM"

Court Will Hear Alleged "Founder of JITEM"

The Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court decided to take the statement of Ergenekon defendant Colonel Arif Doğan who had claimed to have established JITEM, the clandestine Gendarmerie Anti-Terrorism Unit.

30 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Several Approaches - No Concrete Steps

Several Approaches - No Concrete Steps

Tahmaz from the Turkish Peace Parliament thinks that the government is not going to take concrete steps towards a solution of the Kurdish question before the election in 2011. Kurdish politician Türk wants the armed forces of the PKK to withdraw from the region. Retired military judge Kardaş suggests withdrawing the Turkish Armed Forces.

30 September 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

Former PM Spokesman Must Pay Compensation to Journalist

Former PM Spokesman Must Pay Compensation to Journalist

The former spokesman of the Prime Ministry, Akif Beki, was convicted of insulting Hürriyet newspaper reporter Hasan Tüfekçi in the context of his article on "security weaknesses" in the Prime Ministry. Beki has to pay TL 7,500 in compensation to the journalist.

30 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Former Chief of Police Arrested

Former Chief of Police Arrested

Former Eskişehir Chief of Police Avcı, author of the book "Simons in the Golden Horn", was arrested in Istanbul under allegations of "aiding the Revolutionary Headquarters Organization". Avcı commented: "We turned out to be right, they arrested us".

29 September 2010 Burçin Belge