RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 228

Postager.com Writer Imprisoned since Sunday

Postager.com internet author Yıldız was taken to a prison in Istanbul under allegations of refusing testimony in a case launched after an operation against the Kurdistan Communities Confederation. If Yıldız is not released after giving his statement, he will be taken to Adana.

5 January 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

International Appeal for Release of Human Rights Defenders

International Appeal for Release of Human Rights Defenders

REMDH and FEMED rights organizations demanded the release of Human Rights Association executive Kalaycı and deputy chair Erbey who was arrested in an operation against the Kurdistan Democratic Confederation.

5 January 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

"Judiciary Recognizes JİTEM as Criminal Organization"

"Judiciary Recognizes JİTEM as Criminal Organization"

Lawyer Elçi said that JİTEM can be considered as an "armed and dangerous criminal organization aiming to throw over the constitutional order" after the JITEM case has been transferred to a "special authority high criminal court". A hearing can be scheduled as soon as the court accepts the file.

5 January 2010 Tolga Korkut

Artist Faces Prison for Criticizing National Education Director

Artist Faces Prison for Criticizing National Education Director

Turkish artist Müjde Ar is on trial on the grounds of allegedly addressing Eskişehir National Education Director İbrahim Ceylan by saying "Which hinterland do these managers come from?" The case is postponed to 4 March.

5 January 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

What Happened around College (Hafez) Bridge in Tehran?

What Happened around College (Hafez) Bridge in Tehran?

Tehran experienced severe clashes between police forces and the public during the Shia festival of Ashura on 27 December. Eye-witness Siyavash Shahabi reports about the riots in the Iranian capital.

4 January 2010 Siyavash Shahabi

Suspect Detained in Journalist Murder Case

Suspect Detained in Journalist Murder Case

Three people were arrested related to the murder of journalist Cihan Hayırsevener from Bandırma on the southern coast of the Sea of Marmara. Defendant Serkan Erakkuş was taken in detention, two other defendants were released and will be tried un-detained.

4 January 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Press Freedom Wins at Court of Appeals

Press Freedom Wins at Court of Appeals

The Court of Appeals overruled the decision regarding a compensation claim to be paid by NTV for publishing a phone talk between Dink murder case defendant Tuncel and police officer Zenit. The reversal of the previous decree stresses the right to inform and the freedom of the press.

4 January 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Human Rights Foundation - Struggle against Torture Enters 20th Year

Human Rights Foundation - Struggle against Torture Enters 20th Year

The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey was established on 30 December 1990. In the last 19 years, the organization provided help and support services to more than 12,000 torture victims. Several times, the foundation was awarded for its work, including dozens of acknowledged books and reports.

31 December 2009 Tolga Korkut

Lyrics Writer Praising Murder of Journalist Dink Goes Scot-Free

Lyrics Writer Praising Murder of Journalist Dink Goes Scot-Free

Defendants Türüt and Şirin, lyrics writer and vocalist respectively of a folk song which praises the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, have been acquitted. Defendant Öztekin received a 1 year prison sentence for producing and publishing the video clip.

31 December 2009 Erhan Üstündağ

Torture Allegations by Conscientious Objector Aydemir

Torture Allegations by Conscientious Objector Aydemir

Conscientious objector Enver Aydemir claims that he was exposed to torture and maltreatment in prison for refusing to wear military clothes. Aydemir started a hunger strike to express his protest. His wife, his father and lawyer Yılmaz filed a criminal complaint.

30 December 2009 Bawer Çakır

A Further 24 Arrests in Operation on Peace and Democracy Party

A Further 24 Arrests in Operation on Peace and Democracy Party

Another 24 people have been taken into custody in the Turkish cities of Van and Batman. The total number of arrests throughout the last week in the scope of the operation against Peace and Democracy Party mounts to 47 people. The Peace Council of Turkey criticized the course of action.

30 December 2009 Tolga Korkut

Lynch Attack on Leftist Students

Lynch Attack on Leftist Students

A crowd of about 750 people attacked a group of 15 people who were making a press release concerning the demand for the release of 3 friends of theirs in Edirne. 6 people were injured. The lynch attempt could be stopped upon the request of the Chief of Police.

29 December 2009 Bawer Çakır

Call for Permanent Boycott of Israel for Palestine

Call for Permanent Boycott of Israel for Palestine

Activists in Istanbul demonstrated for a boycott against Israel because of the country's attacks on Gaza one year ago. The demonstrators criticized that Turkey is acting on double standards regarding the issue of Palestine.

28 December 2009 Bawer Çakır

Kurdish Politicians Kept in Detention

Kurdish Politicians Kept in Detention

23 people of a total of 35 taken into custody on 24 December are kept in detention, among them 7 mayors, İHD Deputy Chairman Muharem Erbey and Democratic Society Congress spokesman Hatip Dicle.

28 December 2009 Tolga Korkut

Former Interior Minister Cleared of Murder Charges

Former Interior Minister Cleared of Murder Charges

The court declined the request of third party plaintiffship made by families of Arıkan and Demir who were killed in an operation against Dev-Sol. Lawyer Kozağaçlı from the Contemproray Lawyers Association warned that criminal offences are being covered up.

25 December 2009 Erhan Üstündağ

Turkish Refugees in Iraq State 10 Conditions for their Return

Turkish Refugees in Iraq State 10 Conditions for their Return

A DTP delegation visited the Mahmur refugee camp in Iraq. Many Turks forced to migrate in the early 1990s because of clashes and evacuations of villages are still living in the camp. The Turkish refugees want to come back to their home country and voiced the conditions for their return to the delegation.

24 December 2009 Tolga Korkut

Journalists Fined Under Charges of Insulting PM

Journalists Fined Under Charges of Insulting PM

Journalists Perihan Mağden form Radikal newspaper and Cemal Subaşı from Tempo Magazine each have to pay 5,000 TL in compensation to the Prime Minister's family. The Court of Appeals approved the local court's decision regarding the compensation claims as licit.

23 December 2009 Bawer Çakır

Journalist Hayırsevener Killed after Reports Critical of Rival Group

Journalist Hayırsevener Killed after Reports Critical of Rival Group

The murderers of journalist Hayırsevener have not been found yet. Güney Marmara Yaşam newspaper condemned the attack on the journalist and said "He was killed for doing journalism". Hayırsevener had frequently focused on the topic of local corruption.

22 December 2009 Erhan Üstündağ

A Navy Officer, Ergenekon Suspect, Commits Suicide

A Navy Officer, Ergenekon Suspect, Commits Suicide

Navy Commander Tatar committed suicide. After his previous release the prosecutor effected his arrest again. In the hospital where Ergenekon defendant retired Brigadier General Ersöz undergoes medical treatment, a retired specialist sergeant carrying 2 guns was arrested.

22 December 2009 Tolga Korkut

Journalist Sener: I Have Become A Target

Journalist Sener: I Have Become A Target

The court prosecuting journalist Nedim Şener for his book "The Dink Murder and the Intelligence's Lies" did not accept the folders sent by the court dealing with the Hrant Dink murder case, but asked once more for specific information whether the diagrams from the book are included in the file or not.

20 December 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Aydınlık Newspaper Banned for 1 Month

Aydınlık Newspaper Banned for 1 Month

An Istanbul court decided for a 1 month ban of weekly Aydınlık newspaper under allegations of spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization.

18 December 2009

Aydınlık Newspaper Banned for 1 Month

Aydınlık Newspaper Banned for 1 Month

An Istanbul court decided for a 1 month ban of weekly Aydınlık newspaper under allegations of spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization. Aydinlik's management deny praising terrorism, and were not immediately aware which articles the court order referred to.

18 December 2009

Interior Minister Atalay: We Are against the DTP Closure

Interior Minister Atalay: We Are against the DTP Closure

Interior Minister Atalay said that the met with DTP co-chair Türk after the closure of the party and that he was against the closure. However, Adalay indicated that a consensus in parliament is needed for an amendment of the constitution and that no work has been done yet.

18 December 2009 Tolga Korkut

"They gave me 500TL, so I shot at the DTP demonstrators"

"They gave me 500TL, so I shot at the DTP demonstrators"

After the closure of pro-Kurdish DTP, clashes occurred in the pre-dominantly Kurdish South-East of Turkey and also in Istanbul, claiming the lives of several people. A shop owner from Muş shot to the crowd right in front of the police, a person in Istanbul was paid to shoot.

17 December 2009 Tolga Korkut

Ergenekon Prosecutors Investigate Killing of 33 Soldiers

Ergenekon Prosecutors Investigate Killing of 33 Soldiers

Private Özdemir stated to the prosecutor that in his opinion the killing of 33 soldiers in Bingöl in 1993 was related to the Ergenekon organization. Özdemir had been injured in the attack.

17 December 2009 Bawer Çakır

Writer's Case Pending for 2 Years

Writer's Case Pending for 2 Years

Writer Temel Demirer is still on trial under article 301 for saying that Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was murdered for recognizing the Armenian genocide. At the same time, Demirer is also still waiting for a reply from the administrative court.

16 December 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Prosecutor Considers Lesbian Love to be Obscene

Prosecutor Considers Lesbian Love to be Obscene

The Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the contents of the book "The 'L' State of Love" about love stories between lesbians because it allegedly deals with "unnatural relationships". Zeliş Deniz from LambdaIstanbul criticized the repetitive pretence of "public morality".

16 December 2009 Bawer Çakır

Governments Should Apologize for Enforced Disappearances

Governments Should Apologize for Enforced Disappearances

Experts from Europe and the Mediterranean and rights organizations met with families of disappeared people in Istanbul last weekend. The participants called for transparency, clarification and reparation regarding enforced disappearances, claiming individuals and governments to be held responsible.

16 December 2009 Erhan Üstündağ

Decision in Favour of Armenian Agos Newspaper Sparks Hopes

Decision in Favour of Armenian Agos Newspaper Sparks Hopes

Criminal courts in the Istanbul district of Şişli convicted 4 people of insulting and threatening the Armenian Agos newspaper until the present day. The Şişli 2nd Magistrate Criminal Court currently tries defendant Celepoğlu under charges of "inciting hatred and hostility".

15 December 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Prosecution for Books about Dink Murder

Prosecution for Books about Dink Murder

Former Intelligence Office Chairman Ramazan Akyürek filed criminal complaints against Nedim Şener and Kemal Göktaş for their books concerning the murder of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Şener's hearing is tomorrow, Göktaş will be in court in February 2010.

15 December 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalists Face 3 Years Imprisonment for "Respectable" Öcalan

Journalists Face 3 Years Imprisonment for "Respectable" Öcalan

DTP İskenderun District Mayor Mahmut Aydıncı and journalist Ersen Korkmaz face imprisonment of up to 3 years for addressing PKK leader Öcalan as "respectable". The final speech of the prosecution will be presented on 26 January 2010.

14 December 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Two More Journalists in Detention

Two More Journalists in Detention

Dünya Radio broadcasting director Kenan Karavil and Seyithan Akyüz from the Kurdish Azadia Welat newspaper were kept in custody for 4 days and are now in prison under charges of "membership to the PKK organization".

14 December 2009 Erol Önderoğlu