RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 221

Kurdish Politician Tuğluk Scot-Free in 2 Trials

Kurdish Politician Tuğluk Scot-Free in 2 Trials

Kurdish politician Tuğluk was acquitted by an Istanbul court of charges related to a news item published in 2004. Another case filed against her on the grounds of an article published in 2002 was closed by prescription.

13 May 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Clashes in South-Eastern Turkey - 1 Soldier and 1 Civilian Dead

Clashes in South-Eastern Turkey - 1 Soldier and 1 Civilian Dead

Specialist Sergeant Mutlu died in an explosion during an operation in the south-eastern province of Hakkari, one military officer got injured. The General Staff announced that it was a detonative made by the PKK. One civilian died of Turkish artillery fire in northern Iraq.

12 May 2010 Tolga Korkut

Human Rights Foundation Award for Freedom of Thought

Human Rights Foundation Award for Freedom of Thought

This year's "Human Rights Foundation Ayşe Nur Zarakolu Freedom of Thought Award" went to Kurdish politicians Ahmet Türk and Aysel Tuğluk, journalist Mehdi Tanrıkulu, publisher Bedri Adanır and writer Veysi Sarısözen.

12 May 2010 Burçin Belge

Identified Suspect Osman Hayal Not Detained

Identified Suspect Osman Hayal Not Detained

Two detained defendants of the murder case of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink were released in the latest hearing. Osman Hayal was identified by a secret witness, though the court did not take the suspect into detention. Former head of the Police Intelligence Department will not be heard.

12 May 2010 Semra Pelek

Peace Mothers Call for a Meeting with The Armed Forces Chief of Staff

Peace Mothers Call for a Meeting with The Armed Forces Chief of Staff

The Mothers for Peace initiatated a sit-down strike in Ankara in order to convey the call for peace of Kurdish mothers. The members of the initiative request an appointment by the Armed Forces Chief of Staff offices. The action was supported by labour union confederation chair Evren.

11 May 2010 Burçin Belge

Journalists Conference for Peace

Journalists Conference for Peace

The Press Institute Association and the South-Eastern Journalists Association held a conference with dozens of journalists in Diyarbakır. They emphasized that journalists who do not use a language of peace inhibit the contribution of journalists to the Kurdish question.

11 May 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Secret Witness Incriminates Three Suspects as The Killers of Dink

Secret Witness Incriminates Three Suspects as The Killers of Dink

The secret witness of the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink stated that defendant Osman Hayal was there to when Dink was shot. The e-mail accounts of defendant Tuncel were deleted. The hearing was monitored by international observers.

11 May 2010 Semra Pelek

Güler Zere Passed Away

Güler Zere Passed Away

Five months after her release from prison, former political prisoner Güler Zere died of cancer. Zere had been granted pardon by President Gül in November 2009 after having waited for her release for months under conditions of insufficient medical treatment.

10 May 2010 Semra Pelek

2 Soldiers Died - "Stop That Bloodshed"

2 Soldiers Died - "Stop That Bloodshed"

Private Şener in Şırnak and sergeant Aktaş in Hakkari in south-eastern Turkey died of explosives on May 8.According to an announcement of the General Staff, the explosives were placed by the militant PKK. Another 2 soldiers died in an armed conflict on 7 May.

10 May 2010 Tolga Korkut

Lawyer of Detained Journalist Kurşun Recused Member of Court

Lawyer of Detained Journalist Kurşun Recused Member of Court

Lawyer of Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper journalist Kurşun, Serhat Eren, demanded to recuse a judge from a Diyarbakır court; the request will be decided on 13 May. Azadiya Welat correspondent Sayan from Van was released.

10 May 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

216 Defendants "Celebrated" World Press Freedom Day Behind Bars

216 Defendants "Celebrated" World Press Freedom Day Behind Bars

According to the BİA Media Monitoring report, 216 journalists, writers, publishers, caricaturists, politicians and citizens were tried for their thoughts; journalists Kurşun and Güler are in prison. 5 journalists were attacked, fines imposed by the ECHR increased by 100 percent...

9 May 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

"Express" Journalists Face Imprisonment for 'pro-Kurdish' Article

"Express" Journalists Face Imprisonment for 'pro-Kurdish' Article

Journalists Aktan and Erol face imprisonment under charges of "spreading PKK propaganda" by reason of the article "Weather Conditions in the Region and in Qandil" published in the Express magazine. The journalists refer to the "public's right to be informed".

7 May 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Lawyers of the Family of Killed Journalist Dink Sue Deputy Governor

Lawyers of the Family of Killed Journalist Dink Sue Deputy Governor

The lawyers of the murder case of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink sue Istanbul Deputy Governor Güran because he did not let the lawyers have a copy of the inspectors' preliminary investigation report. The coming hearing of the Dink murder case is on 10 May.

6 May 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Media Association: Legal Reform Essential for Press Freedom

Media Association: Legal Reform Essential for Press Freedom

According to the Media Association, 'unfortunately, many journalists are on trial in Turkey, and the suits result in monetary fines or prison sentences. The improved economic performance is not reflected in the development of press freedom'.

5 May 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

G-9 Journalists Platform's Struggle for Rights

G-9 Journalists Platform's Struggle for Rights

Members of the G-9 Journalists Organizations Platform applied to the Ankara Public Chief Prosecution on World Press Day to find out whether their phones are being wiretapped. According to journalist Tılıç, eavesdropping has increased and journalism is seen as a "dangerous work".

4 May 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Chief of General Staff Threatens "One Part of the Press"

Chief of General Staff Threatens "One Part of the Press"

Chief of General Staff Gen. Başbuğ said that 'even the press during the armistice was not as treacherous' as a certain part of today's press in Turkey. Tarf newspaper responded, "The real traitor is the one who leaves children to die".

4 May 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

2009: 36 Deaths in Prison, 36 Deaths for Ignoring "Stop Warning"

2009: 36 Deaths in Prison, 36 Deaths for Ignoring "Stop Warning"

According to the annual report of the Turkish rights organizations İHD and TİHV for 2009, 36 people died in prison, 6 in detention, 61 were shot by village guards, 36 died for ignoring the police's "stop warning". 50 soldiers and 91 armed militants died in conflicts.

3 May 2010 Tolga Korkut

"bianet Is Our Voice, a Source of Unbiased Information "

"bianet Is Our Voice, a Source of Unbiased Information "

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Helsinki Citizens Assembly and other national and international NGOs appreciate the work bianet has accomplished throughout the past ten years, particularly bianet's contribution to the struggle for human rights and freedom of expression.

3 May 2010 Tolga Korkut

Labour Day Finally Back in Taksim Square!

Labour Day Finally Back in Taksim Square!

For the first time in 32 years, Taksim Square was open to the public for a celebration of the labour movement and a call for more rights.

1 May 2010 Tolga Korkut,Berivan Tapan,Semra Pelek

"Happy 10th Anniversary, bianet!"

"Happy 10th Anniversary, bianet!"

Three women celebrate the achievements of bianet: Necla Akgökçe from the women's magazine of the Petrol-Iş trade union, Bahar Toker, who is doing a placement at bianet, and Nilgün Yurdalan, an independent feminist.

44 Counts Life Sentence for Mardin Massacre

44 Counts Life Sentence for Mardin Massacre

The case concerned with the death of 44 people from the village of Bilge in south-eastern Turkey was decided this week. 6 defendants received a 44 counts aggravated life sentence; one defendant underage was sentenced to 44 counts of 15 years imprisonment.

29 April 2010 Tolga Korkut

Witnesses of the Defence Will Testify in Trial against Tursun Family

Witnesses of the Defence Will Testify in Trial against Tursun Family

The family of killed Baran Tursun is tried for raising against the court during the law suit filed related to the death of their son and brother. Tursun's parents and his sister are facing prison sentence. The case was postponed to 9 July to hear eight witnesses of the defence.

29 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Human Rights Defenders' Views on bianet

Human Rights Defenders' Views on bianet

Fincanı from the Turkish Human Rights Foundation says that "bianet means facts in human rights and free, independent and true journalism". Türkdoğan from the Human Rights Foundation states, "Awareness of human rights is raised by the news from bianet".

28 April 2010 Tolga Korkut

Victim's Mother Faces Higher Sentence than Perpetrator

Victim's Mother Faces Higher Sentence than Perpetrator

While a police officer responsible for the death of Baran Tursun received a prison sentence of 25 months, the victim's mother is facing imprisonment of 41 months because of her reaction to the court's decision to release the defendant pending tiral.

28 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

1 Year and 10 Months in Jail for Mayor Selim Sadak

1 Year and 10 Months in Jail for Mayor Selim Sadak

A Diyarbakır court handed down a one year's prison sentence to Siirt Mayor Sadak under charges of "spreading PKK propaganda" on the grounds of using the term "Kurdistan" in a statement. Sadak was recently sentenced to another ten months in jail for a photo in a calendar.

28 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Parliamentary Investigation into Murder of Journalist Dink?

Parliamentary Investigation into Murder of Journalist Dink?

The Justice and Development Party submitted the proposal for a parliamentary investigation into the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink three years ago. Should the proposal be approved, the parliament would have to find the abetters for the murder.

28 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Saymaz Faces 18 Years Imprisonment

Journalist Saymaz Faces 18 Years Imprisonment

Another trial has been launched against journalist Saymaz based on an article about the interrogation of Erzincan Public Chief Prosecutor Erhan Cihaner when he was in custody. Saymaz is facing a total of 18 years imprisonment.

27 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

BİA's 10th Anniversary!

BİA's 10th Anniversary!

BİA will celebrate its 10th anniversary at the coming weekend. BİA started off as a project lead by the principle of "Journalism for rights, freedom for journalists". The 10-year's struggle for an independent media includes the news site, training sessions, books, international forums and thousands of voluntary contributions.

27 April 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

Journalist Doğansoy: "False Allegations because I am Targeted"

Journalist Doğansoy: "False Allegations because I am Targeted"

Journalist Fuat Doğansoy disclaimed the news about himself published in Vakit newspaper saying that "he was caught with drugs in Finland". Doğansoy believes to be targeted.

27 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Quiet Commemoration 95 Years after Armenian Deportation

Quiet Commemoration 95 Years after Armenian Deportation

"This pain is our pain, his mourning is the mourning of all of us" was written on the banner on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the deportation of Armenians. More than 500 people gathered around the banner in Taksim/Istanbul for a silent commemoration.

26 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

"Stop Prosecution of Journalists and Call Real Perpetrators to Account"

"Stop Prosecution of Journalists and Call Real Perpetrators to Account"

Reporters without Borders claimed to leave aside the prosecution of authors Şener and Göktaş, who drew attention to the state's responsibiltiy in the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink in their books. Instead, the ones responsible for the assassination should be revealed, RSF said.

26 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Saymaz on Trial for Articles about Ergenekon Defendant

Journalist Saymaz on Trial for Articles about Ergenekon Defendant

Radikal newspaper journalist Saymaz will stand trial on 29 April for his critical news items concerned with "Ergenekon" defendant Şahin. At the same time, Star newspaper writer Tayyar was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment.

26 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu