RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 231

Diyarbakır Organisations Take A Stand on Kurdish Initiative

Diyarbakır Organisations Take A Stand on Kurdish Initiative

15 organizations from Diyarbakır issued a joint statement: It is not realistic to expect PKK members to come down from the mountains if the reasons that made them draw back into the mountains are not being solved first. DTP has to take the initiative. CHP and MHP hinder the process. The government must take a concrete step.

30 October 2009 Tolga Korkut

11 Students under Prosecution after Riot on Campus

11 Students under Prosecution after Riot on Campus

11 Students face prosecution after a riot at Hacatepe University in Ankara. The police had arrested a total of 66 students who were all released in the meantime. Students criticise the rectorate and the police.

29 October 2009 Bawer Çakır

11 Students under Prosecution after Riot on Campus

11 Students under Prosecution after Riot on Campus

11 Students face prosecution after a riot at Hacatepe University in Ankara. The police had arrested a total of 66 students who were all released in the meantime. Students criticise the rectorate and the police.

29 October 2009 Bawer Çakır

Struggle against Homophobic Discrimination in Professional Life

Struggle against Homophobic Discrimination in Professional Life

LGTB organization Kaos GL held a "LGB Employees Meeting" in Ankara to draw attention to the discrimination of homosexual and bisexual people in professional life. One of the most urgent problems is the rejection of applications because of a person's sexual identity.

29 October 2009 Bawer Çakır

Anti-Terror Law Thwarts Kurdish Initiative

Anti-Terror Law Thwarts Kurdish Initiative

Filiz Koçali, Ramazan Pekgöz and Ziya Çiçekçi from Günlük newspaper are facing imprisonment and severe fines because of an interview with Murat Karayilan on Kandil Mountain about the Kurdish initiative. The case is scheduled for 24 February 2010.

29 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Human Rights Defender Received 3 Years Sentence in First Hearing

Human Rights Defender Received 3 Years Sentence in First Hearing

The Adana 1st Criminal Court of First Instance convicted İHD Branch Chairman Ethem Açıkalın on the grounds of "incitement of hatred and hostility" in the first hearing of the case. TV Açıkalan had criticized detention and heavy punishments of children that had participated in protest actions. He was handed the maximum prison sentence of 3 years.

28 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

General Staff Launched New Investigation into "Piece of Paper"

General Staff Launched New Investigation into "Piece of Paper"

The General Staff launched a further investigation into the "Action Plan against Reactionary Forces" after it was found to be an original document. General Başbuğ had previously referred to the document as a "piece of paper". The General Staff voiced their concerns about the leaking of the letter of advice to the press and wants the ones responsible for the leakage to be punished.

27 October 2009 Tolga Korkut

Female Activist Claims Harassment by the Police

Female Activist Claims Harassment by the Police

ESP member Keskin filed a criminal complaint against police officers of the Esenler Üçyüzlü Police Station, claiming that she became a victim of harassment, torture and insult. Keskin had been arrested while distributing a handout.

27 October 2009 Erhan Üstündağ,Çağla Ağırgöl

Journalist Sarısözen: "Propaganda not Made by Us but by the People"

Journalist Sarısözen: "Propaganda not Made by Us but by the People"

Günlük newspaper journalist Sarısözen and newspaper owner Çiçekçi are facing a 5 years prison sentence under charges of "propaganda for an illegal organization". Sarısözen argued in the hearing, "It is not us making organizational propaganda but the people". The case is adjourned till March 2010.

27 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Time Is Short for Zere's Release

Time Is Short for Zere's Release

The TTB Cancer Advisory Board declared that convict Zere, ill with last stage cancer, has reached a stage that can not be improved by medical means anymore. According to the board, the execution of her sentence should be suspended or she should be released by the President's pardon.

27 October 2009 Tolga Korkut

Prison Sentence for "Azadiya Welat" Distributor Altay

Prison Sentence for "Azadiya Welat" Distributor Altay

Azadiya Welat distributor Altay was found guilty of "making propaganda for an organization". The court decided on the grounds of a picture in one of the issues showing PKK leader Öcalan holding up the daily with both of his hands. Defendant Ete was also convicted because he had unfolded pieces of cloth with the organization's emblem at the opening ceremony of an office.

26 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Transsexuals Complain at Prime Ministry about Police Violence

Transsexuals Complain at Prime Ministry about Police Violence

About 80 people gathered in Ankara upon the call of the Pink Life Transgender Association. Despite police resistance they managed to hand their petition for redress to the Human Rights Presidency of the Prime Ministry. The petition is concerned with police violence against transvestites and transsexuals and rights violations occurring in the Act on Misdemeanour.

26 October 2009 Bawer Çakır

Lawyer Demands 28 Years Prison Sentence for Journalist

Lawyer Demands 28 Years Prison Sentence for Journalist

The court prosecuting journalist Şener will investigate whether supplemental deed of Şener's debated book "The Dink Murder and the Lies of the Intelligence" is included in the Dink murder file. Şener addressed police officer Yılmazer in the hearing, "It was your duty to protect Dink, instead of writing an annotation".

26 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Resul İlçin Dead after "Falling down" in Detention

Resul İlçin Dead after "Falling down" in Detention

Resul İlçin died in hospital after he had been taken into custody. Police officers declared that he "fell down" in detention. İlçin's family filed a complaint. The governor announced, "He fell down himself. He had previously undergone heart surgery". DTP MP Bayındır brought the matter to the parliament.

26 October 2009 Tolga Korkut

Atalay: "Democratic Initiative" Carried on Despite Opposition

Atalay: "Democratic Initiative" Carried on Despite Opposition

Interior Minister Atalay criticized opposition parties MHP's and CHP's statements concerning the peace groups that returned to Turkey in the beginning of this week. Commenting harshly on the welcome events of DTP, he emphasized that the opening process is a success and that the government is going to continue it.

23 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu,Tolga Korkut

8-Page Newspaper Banned for Contents of Page 9

8-Page Newspaper Banned for Contents of Page 9

The Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court banned the weekly Özgür Görüş newspaper for 1 months under charges of "making propaganda for the PKK organization" on page 9 of the 8-page issue.

23 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Ahmet Türk: Celebration is not Show-biz, The Joy of The People

Ahmet Türk: Celebration is not Show-biz, The Joy of The People

DTP Co-Chair Türk responds to the Prime Minister's criticism of turning the arrival of the peace groups into a "show". Türk said, "This is not a show, this is the enthusiasm of the people. They came for the peace process. This enthusiasm should be shared all over Turkey". Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Yalçınkaya has launched an investigation against DTP regarding the receptions.

23 October 2009 Tolga Korkut

"Public Morality" Disturbed by LTGB organization...

"Public Morality" Disturbed by LTGB organization...

The governorship filed a closure case against the Black Pink Triangle association in Izmir under charges of "opposing the public morality and the Turkish family structure". The first hearing is scheduled for February next year.

23 October 2009 Bawer Çakır

"Peace Groups Spark Hopes in Diyarbakır"

"Peace Groups Spark Hopes in Diyarbakır"

Former President of the Medical Association Ölçer said that the arrival of the Peace Groups in Diyarbakır created an atmosphere of reunion and a hope for peace, "Everybody should do their utmost for the PKK to come down from the mountains".

22 October 2009 Tolga Korkut

Attacks against Journalists on the Rise

Attacks against Journalists on the Rise

The Turkish Journalists Society published a declaration against journalists' increasing exposure to violence lately: "We will not hesitate to apply legal ways in order to seek the rights of our colleagues and we know it as our duty to inform the public".

22 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalists Convicted for Criticizing Judge

Journalists Convicted for Criticizing Judge

Selmi Yılmaz and Fakir Yılmaz, owner and editor-in-chief respectively of Kuzey Doğu Anadolu daily, have to pay 4,000 Turkish Lira in compensation. 2 Judges had filed a complaint about them, originally demanding 40,000 TL in compensation. The journalists are going to lodge an appeal against the decision.

22 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

ECHR: Compensation for Ban of Kurdish Newspapers

ECHR: Compensation for Ban of Kurdish Newspapers

Turkey was convicted by the ECHR of putting several newspapers to silence. 26 journalists from 4 Kurdish newspapers had applied to the European court. Turkey has to pay thousands of Euros in compensation to the complainants.

21 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Ölmez, Şahin and Oğuztan Released in Ergenekon Case

Ölmez, Şahin and Oğuztan Released in Ergenekon Case

The court decided to release Erol Ölmez, Kahraman Şahin and Ümit Oğuzhan, prosecuted under the first indictment regarding the "Ergenekon terror organization". Judge Şengün furthermore requested the release of 9 other defendants including Gürses and Kerinçsiz, but this claim was rejected with the majority of votes.

21 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Turkey Worsened Press Freedom Record

Turkey Worsened Press Freedom Record

Turkey fell back 20 places in this year's RSF Worldwide Press Freedom Index. The country shares rank 122 together with the Philippines. The front-runners for press freedom are Denmark, Finland and Ireland. Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea bring up the rear of the index.

21 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Peace Group Fully Released

Peace Group Fully Released

The Silopi Magistrate Criminal Judge released 5 people belonging to the peace group. The prosecutors had demanded to arrest them. All 34 members of the Peace Group are free now.

21 October 2009 Tolga Korkut

Persistence on Unsolved Disappearances

Persistence on Unsolved Disappearances

The Saturday Mothers/People gathered on Istanbul's Galatasaray Square for the 238th time to draw public attention to the disappearance of Hüseyin Toraman who was kidnapped from in front of his house 18 years ago. They also reminded disappearance of six peasants in Silopi 16 years ago.

20 October 2009 Bawer Çakır

On the Brink of a Historic Period

On the Brink of a Historic Period

The last Kurdish uprising can really come to an end by determining Turkey's fate. Twiting the course of the things in that direction will be a result of the policies pursued since 1999 by the Kurdish liberation movement and its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan who have sought peace and reconciliation in the brotherhood and liberty of peoples.

20 October 2009 Ertuğrul Kürkçü

Requests of the Peace Groups

Requests of the Peace Groups

The peace groups entered Turkey yesterday crossing the Iraqi border. They describe themselves as ambassadors for peace and came with letters explaining their demands, "We did not come to benefit from active repentance. We want the initiative to solve the Kurdish question to continue, we want to live together freely and equally".

20 October 2009 Tolga Korkut

Akyürek Deposed from Office - Severe Neglect in Dink Case

Akyürek Deposed from Office - Severe Neglect in Dink Case

Chief of Police Intelligence Office Ramazan Akyürek was removed from office. Akyürek was chief of police in Trabzon before the Dink murder and had employed Erhan Tuncel as an under-cover police informant. The Supervisory Committee held Akyürek responsible for neglect of his duty. The Dink family blamed him of a "neglect resulting in death".

19 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

"Peace Groups" Come to Turkey

"Peace Groups" Come to Turkey

26 refugees from the UN Mahmur Camp and 8 PKK members from Kandil will come to Turkey to talk to DTP delegations today (19 October). According to one of the leading PKK members Kalkan, the aim of the groups is to create a dialogue and open the way for negotiations. President Gül appreciates the initiative.

19 October 2009 Tolga Korkut

EU Doubts Trial Procedures of Dink Case

EU Doubts Trial Procedures of Dink Case

The EU Progress Report criticizes the quality of investigations concerning court cases. High-profile trials like the Dink murder case raise doubts about the role of security forces and their cooperation with the judiciary. Also RSF expresses their concerns about the Dink case.

16 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Let Us not Forget about the Anti-Terror Law either, Mr. Ekşi!

Let Us not Forget about the Anti-Terror Law either, Mr. Ekşi!

There are some unsolved discrepancies in our minds related to freedom of communication. Let us not leave those contradictions to the arbitrariness of the government on behalf of security. Oktay Ekşi says, "The EU is finally aware of the Turkish Criminal Code and the Anti-Terror Law. We would also like to remind Mr. Ekşi of this fact.

16 October 2009 Erol Önderoğlu