RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 259

Photo Gallery: International Women’s Day in Kadiköy

12 March 2008 Emine Özcan

Media Ban on Ergenekon Gang “Violates ECHR Law”

Prosecutor Ayata has dismissed the publishing and printing ban on the Ergenekon operation as “unjustified” and has not opened a case against the Cumhuriyet newspaper.

12 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Amnesty International: 2007 a “Lost Year” for Turkey

Amnesty International: 2007 a “Lost Year” for Turkey

According to Amnesty International, there has been a regression in human rights in 2007. Torture and maltreatment continue, and trials are still compromised.

Dink Family Lawyers to Appeal to ECHR

Dink Family Lawyers to Appeal to ECHR

After a court has found the Trabzon police innocent of gross negligence, Dink family lawyers are preparing to appeal to the ECHR. The RSF has called for the prosecution of all those responsible.

11 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Immunity of 27 Parliamentarians In Question

The Prime Ministerial Office has prepared 45 reports in order to lift the parliamentarian immunity of 27 members of parliament (MPs), most of them from the pro-Kurdish DTP.

6 March 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Peace Initiative: Operations Not the Solution

The Turkish Peace Parliament Marmara Region Peace Initiative has released a statement calling for a solution to the Kurdish issue and for political parties and the media to be responsible.

6 March 2008 Gökçe Gündüç

IHD Activists Call for “Peace” in Many Languages

On Wednesday, the peace commission of the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association staged a protest for peace and a solution to the Kurdish question in Taksim.

6 March 2008 Emine Özcan

You Don’t Like Kurdish? How About Chinese or Japanese?

You Don’t Like Kurdish? How About Chinese or Japanese?

Local authorities in Diyarbakir have found a creative means of criticising the ban on Kurdish: They have added Chinese to their repertoire and are awaiting reactions…

6 March 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Hakkari Girls Win Film Competition

A film about a vilage girl in Hakkari struggling against family pressures to become a painter has won a film competition and will now join the international Panasonic film competition.

5 March 2008 Tolga Korkut

Writer Demirer on Trial for "Armenian Genocide"

In protest at Hrant Dink's murder, writer Demirer had called on others to commit the same "crime" as Dink had done, i.e. to recognise the factuality of an "Armenian genocide." He is now facing a trial under Articles 301 and 216.

5 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Lower-Income Families Affected by Inflation

Prices of basic goods rose by 13 percent in the last year, while rents rose by 16 percent. Lower-income and middle-class families have been most affected.

5 March 2008 Mustafa Sönmez

Antalya Journalists Discuss Regional Journalism

The workshop with local and regional reporters in Antalya brought up issues particular to that kind of journalism. Particularly difficult are lack of training and the sensitive relations in small towns.

4 March 2008 Kerem Morgül

Human Rights Activist Kizgin Imprisoned in Bingöl

Yesterday, former IHD branch president Ridvan Kizgin was sent to prison for two years and six months for investigating the murders of villagers.

Agos Lawyers Reject Biased Court

Lawyers for the Turkish-Armenian Agos newspaper have demanded that the case against Seropyan and Nalci be heared by a different court, arguing that the current one “cannot be independent and neutral.”

3 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Anti-Operations March in Istanbul Stopped by Police

Hundreds of protesters joined the DTP press statement at Galatasaray Square in central Istanbul, but the police intervened in the ensuing march with tear gas, water cannons and shots fired in the air.

3 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Rotation Continues at bianet: Gökçe Gündüç is New Editor-in-Chief

Rotation Continues at bianet: Gökçe Gündüç is New Editor-in-Chief

As we reported in December, bianet adopted a rotation model last year in order to put into practice our ideal of democratic collaboration. Now our third period of rotation has begun, with Gökçe Gündüç as our new editor-in-chief.

3 March 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

General Staff Confirms End of Ground Operations

General Staff Confirms End of Ground Operations

The General Staff has announced that ground operations in Northern Iraq have ended. 240 PKK militants are said to have been killed, as well as 24 soldiers and 3 village guards.

29 February 2008 Tolga Korkut

301 Trial of Activist on “Military Request”

The General Staff has sued lawyer and human rights activist Keskin for “denigrating the army”; Keskin said, “I will continue to criticise militarist pressure.”

28 February 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

254 Deaths Since Ground Operations Started

In the last six days, so the General Staff, 24 soldiers and 230 PKK militants have been killed. Iraqis are fleeing their villages. Turkish human rights activists are starting a peace vigil.

28 February 2008 Tolga Korkut

Dink Hearing: Judge Finally Reacted to Insults

At the fourth hearing on Monday, the court finally reacted to the untolerable behaviour of defendants and defense lawyer Fuat Turgut.

27 February 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Nationalist Uproar at Singer’s Anti-War Stance

Nationalist Uproar at Singer’s Anti-War Stance

Singer Bülent Ersoy’s courageous anti-war utterances on live TV have provoked a nationalist backlash and an investigation.

27 February 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü,Gökçe Gündüç,Anna Çeliker

Dink Trial: Criminal Organisation is Protected

The fourth hearing has brought no further clarity in the case, as many of the requests of the joint plaintiffs were refused.

26 February 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Military Operations Provoke Violence and Do Not Solve Kurdish Issue

DTP politicians have called for an end to operations and violence in general. Journalist Akad criticises the mainstream media for misleading the public.

26 February 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü,Emine Özcan

An “Exam” for Turkey’s Democracy: Hrant Dink and Malatya Trials

An “Exam” for Turkey’s Democracy: Hrant Dink and Malatya Trials

Yesterday there were hearings in the Hrant Dink and the Malatya murder cases. Whether or not all the shady connections in the murders will emerge will decide on the future of Turkey’s democracy.

26 February 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü,Emine Özcan

Iraq Calls on Turkey to Withdraw Soldiers

Iraq Calls on Turkey to Withdraw Soldiers

The Iraqi government has demanded that Turkish soldiers be withdrawn from Northern Iraq. US Secretary of Defense Gates has called on a “dialogue with the Kurds which would strengthen effect of military operations.”

25 February 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

Official Records: 15 Soldiers and 112 PKK Members Killed in Ground and Air Operations

Official Records: 15 Soldiers and 112 PKK Members Killed in Ground and Air Operations

The General Staff has announced that ground operations in Northern Iraq are continuing and that 15 soldiers and 112 PKK militants have been killed in the first three days.

25 February 2008 Tolga Korkut,A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

Turkey Starts Ground and Air Operations in Northern Iraq

Turkey Starts Ground and Air Operations in Northern Iraq

The General Staff has confirmed that the Turkish Armed Forces carried out air operations and sent soldiers into Northern Iraq on 21 February. Iraq is calling for respect for its borders and a non-military solution.

22 February 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

“My Mother Tongue” (3): Laz

According to Laz expert Sapan, the language is at a critical point where it may be lost. The government is also to blaim for assimilation policies.

21 February 2008 Kerem Morgül

“My Mother Tongue" (2): Kurdish

Kurdish speaker Canan wants his children to grow up speaking Kurdish. Teachers are disillusioned with Turkish education system in Kurdish-majority Hakkari.

21 February 2008 Gökçe Gündüç

“My Mother Tongue” (1) : Greek, Armenian and Ladino

The Greek population is dwindling, and the Armenian and Ladino languages have also suffered from assimilation policies over the last decades. New generations may not speak the languages of their grandparents anymore.

21 February 2008 Gökçe Gündüç,Nayat Karaköse,Avi Haligua

UNESCO Declares 2008 “International Year of Languages”

UNESCO Declares 2008 “International Year of Languages”

More than half of the 6,700 languages of the world are under threat in the long term. UNESCO says, “Language is very important as a carrier of identity for groups and individuals.”

21 February 2008 Gökçe Gündüç

Singer Tunc Detained for “Statement”

Singer Ferhat Tunc was taken into custody from his home in the early hours of the morning in order to give a statement. Human rights activists have condemned the detention.

21 February 2008 Erol Önderoğlu