Turkish Journalists Society President Erniç criticized that issues like freedom of expression, the right to inform and journalists' work security and safety of life "are doomed to remain in hollow words". Journalists are controlled by postponing the pronouncement of judgement, Erinç said.

According to a drafted amendment of the Law on Radio and Television Broadcasting Institutions and Publishing Rights, the limit of foreign investment shall increase to 50 percent and RTÜK shall take over supervision and the ascertaining of the number of viewers.

Police operations in the context of the "Sledgehammer coup plan" carried out in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Çanakkale on 5 April resulted in the arrest of 20 people. Senior Rear Admiral Tuncay Çakan from the Istanbul Gülhane Military Medical Academy was among the people arrested.

The Diyarbakır Prosecution demands a total of 127.5 years imprisonment for 17 members of the "Peace Groups" that entered Turkey in 2009. They are charged with "spreading organizational propaganda" and "praising crime and criminals" in a press conference at the Human Rights Foundation.

TRT started broadcasting in Arabic via the TRT El Turkey television channel. PM Erdoğan said at the opening ceremony, "Even though our faces look to the west, by no means does that mean we are turning our backs to the east". The channel can be watched via satellite by more than 3 million viewers.

Metin Alataş, employee of the Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper, was found dead in the Hadırlı district of Adana. Newspaper editor Boltan doubts an alleged suicide: "Altaş was killed by illegal forces or he was forced to commit suicide", Boltan argued.

Enver Aydemir, conscientious objector for religious reasons, has been treated as a "deserter" for about three years now. His lawyers stated a lack of authority of the military court. The court declined their request and sentenced Aydemir to ten months imprisonment.

Günlük newspaper journalist Sarısözen was handed down a 15 months prison sentence for "spreading propaganda for an illegal organization" because he called the PKK a "rebel organization". Newspaper owner Ürper was acquitted, former editorial manger Aktan is wanted by the police.

In the murder case of homosexual Ahmet Yıldız, the court continues the search for prime suspect and father of the victim Yahya Yıldız and Orhan Aymelek, owner of a car rental. By a directive of the president judge, the audience in front of the court house was not allowed inside.

Journalist Nazlı Ilıcak received a prison sentence for describing Judge Osman Kaçmaz as "officious". Kacmaz intended to sue President Abdullah Gül in the context of the "Lost Billions" case. Ilıcak's sentence was converted to a five years' probation period.

Hakkari Mayor Fadıl Bedirhanoğlu, former mayor Kazım Kurt and officials of closed Democratic Society Party Fahri Kurt and Rahmi Temel stand trial for addressing their electorate in Kurdish in the run-up to the 2009 local elections.

Journalist Tezel was attacked by the body guards of the son of Lybian leader Muammer Gaddafi when he tried to take his photograph. Subsequently, it was Tezel who was arrested by the police. The Turkish Journalists' Association urged the Chief of Police to take the necessary consequences.

A court in Istanbul dismissed a compensation claim of more than € 30,000 filed against Günlük Evrensel newspaper. The court decreed that the local daily did not target the TÜPRAG Company by covering environmental damage caused by the Ovacık Gold Mine.

Former editorial manager of the Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper Vedat Kurşun was sentenced to three years imprisonment by a Diyarbakır court because of publishing obituaries of killed PKK members and statements of imprisoned PKK leader Öcalan.

Tunceli Provincial Public Education Branch Director Çakmak took aim at the local Emek newspaper because the daily had criticized the education system. The Provincial Public Education Directorate launched an investigation, Çakmak will be tried on 11 May.

Within three days, the Istanbul High Criminal Court imposed another publication ban on the Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper based on two articles and one obituary for a PKK member. One of the articles mentioned is entitled "Heroism week is the saga of freedom".

The State Council asked the Prime Ministry Press Centre about the basis of the procedure regarding journalist Özer's cancellation of her accreditation. State Council Prosecutor Şahin requested to annul the procedure. Özer is going to wait for another month.

While the previous prosecutor demanded acquittal for publisher Zarakolu, the new prosecutor requests his punishment for the book "More difficult decisions than death". Zarakolu stated that the atmosphere of the trial seems to change according to the country's climate.

Kurdish artist Rojda received a one year and eight month prison sentence under charges of "propaganda for an illegal organization". The verdict is based on the song "Heval Kamurano" Rojda performed on a festival in Diyarbakır last year.

Defendants Tosun and Kalanç , who had distributed a leaflet calling the Prime Minister a "murderer", were acquitted. The court assessed the leaflet as within the boundaries of freedom of expression. However, the court decided to confiscate the leaflets.