RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 218

18th LGBTT Pride Week in Istanbul

18th LGBTT Pride Week in Istanbul

LambdaIstanbul hosted the 18th LGBTT Pride Week in Istanbul and took a look at the traditional family concept from "upside down". Organizations, students, families, artists and MPs came together for nine days to discuss their problems, hopes and achievements.

Women Demonstrate against Abuse and Rape

Women Demonstrate against Abuse and Rape

After the recent severe case of rape of Women Movement member K.S., members of the Istanbul Women Platform demonstrated in a sit-down strike against rape and abuse of women. They criticized the government for an increasing number of rapes just when the war is escalating.

29 June 2010 Burçin Belge

98 NGOs Call for End of Violence - PKK Refuse Unilateral Ceasefire

98 NGOs Call for End of Violence - PKK Refuse Unilateral Ceasefire

98 NGOs from Diyabakır call for an end of the military operations. They urge the PKK to stop their actions and demand the Parliament to prepare the legal grounds for a solution of the Kurdish question. The PKK waits for concrete steps before they will act accordingly.

29 June 2010 Tolga Korkut,Erhan Üstündağ

Torture Continues - Impunity Prevails

Torture Continues - Impunity Prevails

In demonstrations organized in Istanbul, Diyarbakır and Ankara, rights organizations drew attention to ongoing torture in Turkey. They emphasized that torture cases have increased since 2005. The organizations criticized impunity and official expertise.

28 June 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

Second Change of Court Board in Case on Police Shooting

Second Change of Court Board in Case on Police Shooting

The trial against 7 police officers accused of shooting magazine distributor Gerçek saw the second change of the court board. Gerçek is paralyzed since the attack. The case was postponed to 24 December. The court decided to acquire a report from the Forensic Medicine Institute.

28 June 2010 Bervian Tapan

RTÜK Punished Thoughts on "Genocide" Voiced by Turkish Writer

RTÜK Punished Thoughts on "Genocide" Voiced by Turkish Writer

The Radio and TV Supreme Council suspended the broadcast of a program on Haber Türk because writer Nişanyan thoughts on the "Armenian Genocide" supposedly exceeded the limits of criticism. Also the series "Lady's farm" was found "against the Turkish family structure".

28 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Akşam Newspaper Sued for Ergenekon Reporting

Akşam Newspaper Sued for Ergenekon Reporting

Former editor Pelek and editorial manager Dolu are each facing prison sentences of up to 8 years on the grounds of a news article in the context of the Ergenekon investigation. Journalist association president Abakay criticizes that this kind of trial is not legal.

25 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

"A Solution for the Kurdish Question must be a Solution for Turkey"

"A Solution for the Kurdish Question must be a Solution for Turkey"

Journalist Ertuğrul Kürkçü stated that a Constitution not based on any sort of ethnics and religious beliefs which keeps an equal distance to all ethnics and beliefs would not only be a step to solve the Kurdish question but also to resolve other problems in Turkey as a whole.

24 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Who is Afraid of Understanding "Ergenekon"?

Who is Afraid of Understanding "Ergenekon"?

Journalists Mavioğlu and Şık are facing prison sentence for their books "Understanding the counter guerrilla and Ergenekon" and "Who is who in Ergenekon" under charges of violating the secrecy of the "Ergenekon Investigation".

24 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

OSCE and Turkish Institutions Against Internet Censorship

OSCE and Turkish Institutions Against Internet Censorship

Miyatoviç from the OSCE urged Turkey to abide by international legal standards and lift internet access bans. An initiative of 36 Turkish organizations and institutions said the access bans are a breach of the law and called officials who failed to work out legal reforms to resign.

24 June 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

14 Life Sentences in Trial against Terror Organization THKP/C

14 Life Sentences in Trial against Terror Organization THKP/C

12 out of 25defendants in the case against the THKP/C Dev-Sol terrorist organization received life sentences; aggravated life sentences were handed down to 2 culprits. They were tried for 69 crimes committed from 1989-1991. Charges against 7 defendants were dropped by prescription.

23 June 2010 Berivan Tapan

Kurdish Politician Investigated for Call to Refuse Military Service

Kurdish Politician Investigated for Call to Refuse Military Service

The Batman prosecutor launched an investigation into Peace and Democracy Party group deputy chair Yıldız under charges of "alienating the public from military service". He had publicly called to refuse military service.

23 June 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

TAK Claims the Responsibility for the Bomb Attack

TAK Claims the Responsibility for the Bomb Attack

The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on a civilian bus transporting military personnel in Istanbul on Monday. The attack left five people dead, among them two special sergeants and one teenage girl.

23 June 2010 Burçin Belge

12 more Releases in Sledgehammer Investigation

12 more Releases in Sledgehammer Investigation

The Istanbul court concerned with the "Sledgehammer" investigation into an alleged coup plan released 14 retired and active army officers on Friday and another 12 on Monday, among them a former member of the National Security Council. Three soldiers currently remain in detention.

23 June 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

Three People Died in Bomb Attack in Istanbul

Three People Died in Bomb Attack in Istanbul

Two special sergeants and a girl died in an explosion in a bus in Istanbul this morning. The shuttle bus was a civil vehicle carrying military personnel. It was announced that the explosion was the result of a bomb attack.

22 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Chief of General Staff: No Need for Martial Law after PKK Attacks

Chief of General Staff: No Need for Martial Law after PKK Attacks

After the PKK attack on a gendarmerie outpost in the South-East, pro-Kurdish politician Yıldız called for "not joining the army". Chief of General Staff Başbuğ said there is no need for a "state of emergency". Kılıçdaroğlu from the CHP said, "The government smashed against a wall".

22 June 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

11 Soldiers Died in PKK Attack

11 Soldiers Died in PKK Attack

According to the General Staff, eleven soldiers and twelve members of the illegal Kurdistan Workers Party PKK were killed in armed conflicts in south-eastern Turkey over the weekend. Fırat News agency announced the death of three PKK members. The funeral services for the killed soldiers were attended by thousands of people.

21 June 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

Middle East Technical University Blocks "Living Library"

Middle East Technical University Blocks "Living Library"

The Middle-East Technical University refused permission for the "living library", a human rights project to reduce prejudice against socially excluded individuals. The university did not approve the project because it "addresses only a small number of people".

21 June 2010 Berivan Tapan

International Observers Follow Trial against Human Rights Advocator

International Observers Follow Trial against Human Rights Advocator

The second hearing of the against the President of the Turkish Human Rights Foundation, Prof. Dr. Korur Fincancı, was observed by representatives of the Human Rights Committee of the Norwegian Bar Association and the Kurdish Human Rights Project.

21 June 2010 Berivan Tapan

2009 Award for Successful Journalism in Turkey

2009 Award for Successful Journalism in Turkey

The Turkish Journalists Association announced the laureates of the "Award for Successful Journalism in Turkey". Association President Erinç criticized that working conditions for journalists have worsened.

18 June 2010 Berivan Tapan

Supporters of Conscientious Objector Convicted

Supporters of Conscientious Objector Convicted

Ankara Prosecutor Karakuş demanded the acquittal of 19 defendants who were tried for supporting conscientious objector Aydemir. Yet, one defendant received a prison sentence of 1.5 years, three defendants were each sentenced to six months in jail.

18 June 2010 Burçin Belge

President Judge: not the TSK Is on Trial

President Judge: not the TSK Is on Trial

In the second hearing of the "Cage" trial, defendant Adm. Öğütçü claimed a clandestine third power to be behind the plot. Court president Yılmazabdurrahmanoğlu called the defendants and their lawyers to remain reasonable and emphasized that it is not the Turkish Army being tried.

Case against Kurdish Politician Leyla Zana Retried

Case against Kurdish Politician Leyla Zana Retried

Kurdish politician Leyla Zana is at court again after the Court of Appeals had overruled a two-year prison sentence decreed by a local court. Zana is tried for calling Celal Talabani, Mesut Barzani and Abdullah Öcalan the "three leaders of the Kurdish people".

17 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Press Council Deems "Punch" Article in the Limits of Press Freedom

Press Council Deems "Punch" Article in the Limits of Press Freedom

The Press Council accounted the praise of violence as an "idea". The Council assessed the article of Hürriyet writer Özdil as part of "press freedom". Özdil had "approved" the punch attack on Kurdish politician Türk, The Council decided to dismiss the complaint.

17 June 2010 Semra Pelek

Turkey Convicted of Censorship and Intervention against Demonstrators

Turkey Convicted of Censorship and Intervention against Demonstrators

The European Court of Human Rights found Turkey guilty of a violation of freedom of expression because of bans of Yedinci Gün and Toplumsal Demokrasi newspapers. Turkey was also convicted in cases filed by journalist Arpat and 13 demonstrators respectively.

17 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Change of Prosecutor - Journalist Durukan's Trial Postponed

Change of Prosecutor - Journalist Durukan's Trial Postponed

A new prosecutor was appointed to the Istanbul court dealing with the case of journalists Durukan and Çakkalkurt. He requested additional time to prepare a new submission. The previous prosecutor had demanded lengthy prison sentences for both defendants.

16 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Armenian Weekly Agos Accepted as Joint Plaintiff in "Cage" Trial

Armenian Weekly Agos Accepted as Joint Plaintiff in "Cage" Trial

The Istanbul 12th High Criminal Court accepted the Armenian Agos newspaper as joint plaintiff in the trial related to the "Cage Action Plan". Defendant Erakyol did not accept the charges pressed against him. Defendant Özsaraç denied the existence of the plan.

16 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu,Berivan Tapan

Attack on Journalist and AKP Member Polat in South-East Turkey

Attack on Journalist and AKP Member Polat in South-East Turkey

GAP Gündemi newspaper owner Polat was attacked by a group of people on his way home from work on Monday. The Turkish Journalists Association condemned the assault. Polat, at the same time AKP deputy provincial chair, was injured in his face.

16 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Intervention of Agos Newspaper Attorneys in "Cage Action Plan" Case

Intervention of Agos Newspaper Attorneys in "Cage Action Plan" Case

The Armenian Agos newspaper requests to be accepted as joint plaintiff for the case of the "Cage Action Plan" which targeted non-Muslim communities in Turkey. The trial will start at the Istanbul 12th High Criminal Court on15 June.

15 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

DİHA Reporter Detained, Demonstrator Severely Injured

DİHA Reporter Detained, Demonstrator Severely Injured

A Van court detained DİHA reporter Çiftçi and a further 10 people under charges of "connection to the KCK", the umbrella organization of the PKK. Cemil Akgül, a young man who protested the detentions, got severely injured on his head.

15 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Chief Editor of Women Magazine Detained since March!

Chief Editor of Women Magazine Detained since March!

Gurbet Çakar, editorial manager of the Kurdish-Turkish women magazine Rengê Hevîya Jinê, has been in detention for three months. A Diyarbakır court decided to extend her detention for at least 20 days. She had previously been sentenced to more than three years in jail.

14 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

3 Years' Sentence for Threat against Armenian Weekly

3 Years' Sentence for Threat against Armenian Weekly

Yasin Yıldız received a three-year prison sentence for threatening the Armenian Agos newspaper via e-mail after the killing of Agos chief editor Dink. He was handed down another three months in jail for insult. This is the fifth positive decision for Agos.

14 June 2010 Erol Önderoğlu