RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 222

Socially Disadvantaged Students Became Victims of Abuse

Socially Disadvantaged Students Became Victims of Abuse

Primary school students in Siirt were abused and raped by school staff throughout the last two years. The Teachers' Union Eğitim-Sen said that everybody who helped to conceal this crime against humanity bears a joint guilt.

23 April 2010 Burçin Belge

ECHR Convicted Turkey of Extrajudicial Killings

ECHR Convicted Turkey of Extrajudicial Killings

The European Court of Human Rights convicted Turkey based on extrajudicial killings by the police. Turkey was sentenced to a € 103,000 fine for "violating the right to life" regarding the killing of an innocent bystander during a police raid of a private home.

23 April 2010 Semra Pelek

Protocols between Turkey and Armenia Shelved

Protocols between Turkey and Armenia Shelved

The Armenian coalition government decided to take the approval of the protocols between Turkey and Armenia off the parliament's agenda until Turkey refrains from preconditions regarding the approval. The protocols envisage the development of diplomatic relations.

23 April 2010 Tolga Korkut

"Peace Groups" on Trial for "Organizational Propaganda"

"Peace Groups" on Trial for "Organizational Propaganda"

17 members of the "Peace Groups" that came from Iraq to Turkey in 2009 are facing trial for "propaganda for an illegal organization". The defendants dismiss the charges and refer to their freedom of thought. Another 30 trials are filed against each adult of both groups.

22 April 2010 Tolga Korkut

Five Amendments Passed - Children's Rights Dismissed

Five Amendments Passed - Children's Rights Dismissed

After two sessions, the Turkish Parliament passed five clauses of the constitutional reform package on equality, secrecy of private life, freedom of movement, labour union rights and protection of children's rights. The reservations on the Convention on Children's Rights were not lifted though.

22 April 2010 Tolga Korkut

Case Files of Trabzon and Istanbul Will not be Merged

Case Files of Trabzon and Istanbul Will not be Merged

The Trabzon 2nd Magistrate Court decided against merging the file concerned with the prosecution of eight gendarmerie officers accused of negligence in the murder of journalist Dink with the file in Istanbul. Moreover, four informants from the Trabzon Gendarmerie will not be heard.

22 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

"Right to Conscientious Objection instead of 'Paid' Exemption"

"Right to Conscientious Objection instead of 'Paid' Exemption"

Sönmez from the Pacifist Group stated that exemption from military service by payment will not be put on Turkey's agenda because the General Staff opposes the idea. Sönmez demanded Turkey's recognition of the right to conscientious objection.

21 April 2010 Burçin Belge

Energy Minister Punched - Attacker Detained

Energy Minister Punched - Attacker Detained

Energy Minister Yıldız was punched in his face at a funeral. A court in Kayseri decided to detain the attacker pending trial. The Ministry of the Interior appointed two inspectors to investigate the incident. PM Erdoğan said that the background of the attack will be revealed.

21 April 2010 Tolga Korkut

12 Extra-Judicial Killings in Three Months

12 Extra-Judicial Killings in Three Months

According to the Turkish Human Rights Foundation, seven people died in detention in the first quarter of 2009 and another five in extra-judicial executions by the police and the gendarmerie. Two people died in detention in April, one was severely injured by police bullets.

20 April 2010 Tolga Korkut

"Press Freedom is Information, not Criticism of the Government"

"Press Freedom is Information, not Criticism of the Government"

Hautala from the European Parliament urged Turkey to act on the improvement of freedom of speech. EFJ President König said that recent reports on press freedom were not very promising. Türmen: "Press freedom means informing people and not criticizing the government".

20 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

"Governor of Samsun Neglected His Duty"

"Governor of Samsun Neglected His Duty"

The Platform for a Peaceful and Democratic Solution filed a criminal complaint against Governor Güzeloğlu from Samsun. The platform holds Güzeloğlu responsible for the attack on Kurdish politician Ahmet Türk and demands his resignation.

20 April 2010 Berivan Tapan

BDP Politicians in the Sight of the Judiciary

BDP Politicians in the Sight of the Judiciary

An Ankara Court decided once more to bring BDP Istanbul MP Tuncel to court by compulsion. Siirt Mayor Sadak was sentenced to imprisonment of 10 months in a single session because of pictures the 2010 calendar. DTK Co-Chair Dicle faces prison sentence of up to 20 years.

19 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Eroğlu New President of Northern Cyprus

Eroğlu New President of Northern Cyprus

Derviş Eroğlu is the new president of Northern Cyprus with a majority vote of more than 50 percent. His opponent Ali Talat got 42.8 percent of the votes. In Southern Cyprus, the result was assessed as a "negative development".

19 April 2010 Burçin Belge

Human Rights Activits Tried for Criticising Forensic Medicine Institute

Human Rights Activits Tried for Criticising Forensic Medicine Institute

Board Chair of the Turkish Human Rights Foundation Prof. Dr Ş. K. Fincancı faces prison sentence for her statements about N. Bilgen, chair of the Institute for Forensic Medicine 3rd Specialization Chamber. Fincancı had criticised Bilgen and the Institute in an interview.

19 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Sued for Comment on Attack on Kurdish Politician

Journalist Sued for Comment on Attack on Kurdish Politician

An established lawyer from the Diyarbakır Bar Association filed a complaint about journalist Özdil for "praising a crime and a criminal" and "inciting the public to hatred". Özdil had evaluated the attack on politician Türk as the expression of the feelings of many people.

Journalist Convicted for Anecdote about PM Erodoğan

Journalist Convicted for Anecdote about PM Erodoğan

Journalist Mustafa Arıgümüş received a prison sentence of eleven months and 20 days because of alleged insult of PM Erdoğan in a published anecdote. Sevda Turaçlar from Adana was convicted for the same offence. A similar case of journalist Kaşkar from Milas is still pending.

16 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Former Intelligence Officer Admits Neglect of Police in Dink Murder

Former Intelligence Officer Admits Neglect of Police in Dink Murder

In yesterday's hearing of the case against journalist Şener based on his book about the murder of Turkish-Armenian jounalist Dink, former Head of Intelligence Uzun admitted negligence of the police prior to the assassination. He said the murder could have been prevented.

16 April 2010 Berivan Tapan

Disproportionate Police Intervention after Attack on Kurdish Politician

Disproportionate Police Intervention after Attack on Kurdish Politician

A 14-year-old had his cheek bone broken when he was dragged along by the police in Hakkari. His family filed a complaint about the police officers. The Peace and Democracy Party and the Human Rights Foundation call for the suspension of the Governor and the Chief of Police.

15 April 2010 Semra Pelek

Ergenekon Case: 7th Indictment Submitted

Ergenekon Case: 7th Indictment Submitted

The 7th indictment of the Ergenekon case is ready to be presented to the court. It is concerned with the "Action Plan against Reactionary Forces" allegedly prepared by Colonel Çiçek. Main suspects are İSTEK Foundation President Dalan, Colonel Çiçek and Yılmaz from MİT.

15 April 2010 Burçin Belge

Arabic Broadcast Incomprehensible for Turkish Viewers

Arabic Broadcast Incomprehensible for Turkish Viewers

Siirt Mücadele newspaper owner Kılıçoğlu criticized that the recently launched Arabic broadcast of TRT E1Turkey has nothing to do with the Arabic spoken in the region of Siirt in south-eastern Turkey. The broadcast in common Arabic is incomprehensible by speakers of local dialects.

14 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

1,483 DTP Members Detained for 1 Year without Indictment

1,483 DTP Members Detained for 1 Year without Indictment

Demirtaş, Co-Chair of the Peace and Democracy Party, criticized the ongoing detention of 1,483 Kurdish politicians, local executives and rights defenders in the context of "KCK operations". "In eight years, we saw nothing but cruelty from AKP", he said.

14 April 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

New Investigation in Murder Case of Journalist Dink

New Investigation in Murder Case of Journalist Dink

Due to a decision taken by the Istanbul Governorship Administrative Board, a new investigation can be launched related to the murder case of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink into five former officials of the Istanbul Police Directorate who were on duty at the time.

14 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Pro-Kurdish Politician Türk Attacked

Pro-Kurdish Politician Türk Attacked

Ahmet Türk, former co-chair of closed Democratic Society Party, was attacked after a court hearing in Samsun. Türk was taken to hospital and underwent surgery because his nose was broken.

13 April 2010 Burçin Belge,Erhan Üstündağ

Death of Convict in Prison - Suspicion of Torture

Death of Convict in Prison - Suspicion of Torture

Convict Kılınç died in intensive care where he had been brought from the Izmir 2nd F-Type Prison. Lawyer Paşa Bayraktar claimed that a crack running from Kılınç's forehead to his neck and other injuries substantiate suspicion of torture.

13 April 2010 Tolga Korkut

Media's Important Role for Hate Crimes

Media's Important Role for Hate Crimes

Journalists highlighted the media's impact on hate crimes such as the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink or the killing of employees of a Christian publishing house. The results of the referring studies were discussed at the Conference on Hate Speech and Hate Crimes last weekend.

13 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Impunity in Torture Case with New Prosecutor?

Impunity in Torture Case with New Prosecutor?

Newly assigned prosecutor Calık in the torture case of Engin Çeber, who died from torture in detention, requested a life sentence for only two of a total of 60 defendants and acquittal for ten police officers. Lawyer Tanay criticized that the demanded sentences resemble an exemption from punishment.

13 April 2010 Tolga Korkut

Journalists' Struggle against Discrimination

Journalists' Struggle against Discrimination

As part of the "Conference on Hate Speech and Hate Crimes", journalists and human rights defenders discussed the role of the media for the discrimination of minorities. Tolga Korkut from bianet emphasized that journalists should focus on rights and avoid discrimination by using a biased language.

12 April 2010 Tolga Korkut

Turkey's Homework on Cybercrime

Turkey's Homework on Cybercrime

Yaman Akdeniz from the Bilgi University School of Law appreciated Turkey's decision to sign the European Convention on Cyber Crimes. However, Akdeniz emphasized that this was not enough, saying that the protection of individual data should be implemented in domestic law.

12 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Demonstration for Democratic Constitution Ends with Tear Gas

Demonstration for Democratic Constitution Ends with Tear Gas

The police intervened with tear gas and truncheons against demonstrators voicing their opinions on a democratic constitution in Kadıköy/Istanbul during the weekend. The meeting was attended by 5,000 people, among them members of political parties and non-governmental organizations.

12 April 2010 Berivan Tapan

"Poyrazköy" - Armenian Agos Newspaper Rejected as Joint Plaintiff

"Poyrazköy" - Armenian Agos Newspaper Rejected as Joint Plaintiff

An Istanbul Court dismissed the request to be accepted as joint plaintiffs made by Turkish-Armenian Agos newspaper and the Armenian Church. Neither will the file be transferred to a military court as demanded by the defendants' lawyers. The case will continue on 15 April.

12 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Confirmed: Soldiers Killed by Mine from the Army

Confirmed: Soldiers Killed by Mine from the Army

A gendarmerie laboratory confirmed that the mine that killed seven soldiers in South-East-Turkey in May 2009 belonged to the army. The prosecution file of the case launched by the victims' families was transferred to the Prosecutor's Office of the General Staff.

9 April 2010 Tolga Korkut

Major Doubts about Journalist's Death Brought to Parliament

Major Doubts about Journalist's Death Brought to Parliament

Bayandır from the Peace and Democracy Party brought the doubts about the suspicious death of Metin Alataş, employee of the Kurdish Azadiay Welat newspaper, to Interior Minister Atalay. Alataş was attacked a few months prior to his death and had previously claimed to be threatened.

9 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu