RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 266

252 Organisations Call for Peace

252 Organisations Call for Peace

Organisations in the East and Southeast of Turkey have called on the PKK to put down arms and on the government to create favourable conditions for peace.

9 November 2007 Tolga Korkut

Local TV in Diyarbakir Fined by RTÜK

RTÜK has fined the Diyarbakir Gün TV a total of 200,000 YTL for "broadcasts violating truth and neutrality".

9 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

RSF: 301 Needs "Deeds not Words"

In a press release of 7 November, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) have called on the Turkish Minister of Justice to act on promises to change Article 301.

9 November 2007

Yoleri New President of Istanbul IHD

The Istanbul branch of the IHD has voted for its new president and managing committee.

9 November 2007 Tolga Korkut

Multilingual Diyarbakir Municipality on Trial

Multilingual Diyarbakir Municipality on Trial

After offering municipal services in three languages apart from Turkish, mayor Abdullah Demirbas from the Sur municipality in Diyarbakir was taken from office and his municipal council was dissolved. The trial against Demirbas and twenty others has started.

9 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Nationalist Singer and Composer on Trial

Nationalist Singer and Composer on Trial

Singer Ismail Türüt and composer Arif Sirin, as well as two people charged with creating a clip on YouTube, are on trial for "praising a criminal" and "inciting hatred and hostility". Up to 7.5 years imprisonment are demanded.

7 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Prosecutor Demands Acquittal for “Minority Report”

The Chief Prosecutor at the Supreme Court of Appeals has called for the acquittal of academics Kaboglu and Oran to be ratified.

6 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

EU Calls for Ceasefire and Political Steps

Condemning the PKK attacks, the EU has also called on Turkey to refrain from cross-border operations. Turkey and Iraq are called upon to seek lasting solution.

26 October 2007 Tolga Korkut

UN Warns: Operations Will Bring Refugee Crisis

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Guterres has warned against cross-border operations into Northern Iraq.

17 October 2007 Tolga Korkut

Gay Rights Organization Threatened With Ban

The Human Rights Watch has published a press release, in which it condemns pressure put on a gay rights organisation in Istanbul.

17 October 2007

Peace Requires "Social Transformation"

Prof. Dr. Sancar warned of the danger of seeing violence as the only problem in the Kurdish question.

9 October 2007 Tolga Korkut

Kurdish Party: "We are Being Made Targets"

The pro-Kurdish DTP has protested against being shown as Turkey's enemies.

8 October 2007 Tolga Korkut

Santoro Murder Sentence Confirmed

The Court of Appeals has affirmed a sentence of 18 years and 10 years imprisonment for the murder of priest Santaro.

European Parliament Report on Turkey

European Parliament Report on Turkey

The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee has passed a report on Turkey with 48 votes and 4 abstentions.

5 October 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

ECHR: Compensation for Human Rights Activist Birdal

The European Court of Human Rights has sentenced Turkey to paying compesation for imprisoning human rights activist Akin Birdal.

3 October 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Military Interferes Everywhere!

General Yasar Büyükanit spoke at the opening of the new academic year of the military academies, but he was addressing many more than the students present...

3 October 2007 Erhan Üstündağ

Parliamentary Commission into Deaths of Dink and Okey

The Parliamentary Human Rights Commission has formed commissions to investigate deaths of journalist Hrant Dink and refugee Festus Okey.

2 October 2007 Tolga Korkut

Coup General Evren Accused of Hypocrisy

The 78'ers Turkey Initiative has accused retired General Kenan Evren of hypocrisy.

28 September 2007 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

Appeal by Conscientious Objector Savda

Turkey is the only member country of the European Council not to accept conscientious objection. Please support our campaign.

28 September 2007 Halil Savda

Diyarbakir Lawyer: Officer's Confessions Carefully Timed

Diyarbakir Bar Association Tanrikulu says that soldiers only make confessions about their time in service when they are sure that the statute of limitations applies.

26 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

Hüsnü Öndül IHD President Again

The Human Rights Association has reelected Hüsnü Öndül as its president in an extraordinaory general meeting.

26 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

ECHR: Damages for Torture Victim

The ECHR has awarded damages to a young man who was tortured while in detention in Diyarbakir in 2002.

24 September 2007 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü,A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

"Crimes of Thought": 229 Years Imprisonment in Six Months

"Crimes of Thought": 229 Years Imprisonment in Six Months

The Human Rights Association has published its first six-monthly report for 2007: 451 people are on trial.

24 September 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Two Detention Deaths in One Month

Two Detention Deaths in One Month

Polish national Witek is said to have killed himself in detention; vital evidence in Okey case is "lost".

21 September 2007 Tolga Korkut,Ismail Saymaz

Erdogan: "No Hurry for Constitution"

Erdogan: "No Hurry for Constitution"

Prime Minister Erdogan has said, "We are preparing a constitution for Turkey, not for the AKP. There is no text yet."

19 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

9 Years for Killing of Refugee

The prosecution has demanded a sentence of 4.5-9 years for the police officer who shot Nigerian refugee Okey in the Beyoglu Police Department.

19 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

Lawyers Protest Semdinli Court Transfer

Lawyers Protest Semdinli Court Transfer

Jurists doubt military court will guarantee a fair trial. Human Rights Law specialist Terzi: The soldiers need to be tried in a civil court.

19 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

AKP "Putting Veneer on the 12 September Citizenship"

AKP "Putting Veneer on the 12 September Citizenship"

As the AKP is presenting its draft for a new constitution, it becomes clear that not much has changed. Prof. Dr. Oran criticises "compulsory citizenship".

17 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

No Trial Yet in "Malatya Massacre"

The investigation into the murder of three people at Zirve Publishers in Malatya has yet to be concluded.

17 September 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Kurdish Question: Action, Not Words Needed

Kurdish Question: Action, Not Words Needed

After President Gül's visit to Diyarbakir, Kurdish representatives call for fewer words and more action.

17 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

What is 'Dangerous' about Minority Report?

Prof. Dr. Kaboglu has reacted to the Court of Appeal's decision to overturn his aquittal by saying that "a change in attitude takes time".

17 September 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Semdinli Trial in Military Court

Semdinli Trial in Military Court

The Van 3rd Penal Court decreed that it was not responsible for the Semdinli trial; the case has been sent to military court.

17 September 2007 Tolga Korkut