RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 269

CHD: Guards Beat 50 Women Prisoners

Contemporary Jurists Association reveals that 50 women prisoners who were being transferred from one prison to another were severely beaten and abused by guards onthe wa. One prisoner attempts suicide after transfer.

Cemil Goren: New Conscientious Objector

Turkish youth of Kurdish origin declares himself a Conscientious Objector through human rights association, bringing up the number of Turkeys anti-war activists rejecting compulsory military service to 60.

TMY Violates Constitution

Prof. Dr. Kaboglu: Bill amending Anti-Terror Law has severe contradictions to Constitution. Essence of rights being changed, freedom of expression limited. Conventions on human rights are being violated. hope Sezer will send the law back to Parliament.

3 July 2006 Tolga Korkut

Onen Speaks Out: Why Torture is Systematic

The primary reason is that those who commit torture are protected and they go unpunished. Of those applying to the foundation, 113 were tortured in the first 5 months of 2006. Turkey should approve the additional protocol.

28 June 2006 Tolga Korkut

TAYAD Faces New Lynch Attempt in Trabzon

Members of prisoner families solidarity association TAYAD attacked by crowd of 500 while trying to read press statement protesting conditions in F-type prisons. Police save victims from angered mob beating.

Police Watch, Beath and Attack in Trabzon

Attacked by crowd in Trabzon after reading TAYAD statement, activist Uzun says Police didnt intervene during the attack. They beat us in the toilet, used pepper gas on us. Then they filed a complaint against us.

27 June 2006 Tolga Korkut

Trabzon IHD: Plainclothes Root of Trouble

Trabzo IHD says attack on TAYAD statement started by a plainclothes police officer and attackers connected to 2005 lynch attempt: Those responsible should be tried. Chair Alatas demands investigation by Interior Ministry and resignation of Governor.

27 June 2006 Tolga Korkut

ECHR Sentences Turkey for Book Verdict

Turkey to pay 2,000 Euro in damages for sentencing Urun Publications executive to 13 months 10 days imprisonment in trial of Turkish Communist Party 5th Congress Documents book. Human Rights court says freedom of expression violated.

24 June 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

IHD Chair Faces 4.5 Years Jail for Speech

Trial of IHD Diyarbakir Branch Chair Demirtas for speech on Roj TV begins with prosecutor demanding 4.5 years imprisonment on charge of propagating for organization. IHD Diyarbakir: The case is an obstacle to freedom of expression, repression of IHD.

Criminal Complaint Against Agar, Menzir, Koza

Gazi Justice Commission lawyers file criminal complaint against govorner, police chief and minister after convicted police says they issued the orders in 1995 violence that led to 22 dead and 400 wounded. They want authorities to take his statement.

Solidarity with Eren Keskin to Continue

The Solidarity with Keskin Network ended its campaign with a press conference at IHD Istanbul Branch. Total of 8,876 signatures collected together with enough donations to pay her Keskins fine if her sentence is approved.

NGOs Concerned for Draft Anti-Terror Bill

Journalists and writers NGOs to release a joint press statement at 11.00 Tuesday voicing their collective concerns over the new Anti-Terror Bill before the Parliament Justice Commission starts to debate it again this week.

19 June 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

180 Death Strikers Pardoned by President

Justice Minister reveals that President Sezer has so far pardoned 180 leftwing convicts who were on hunger strike to death and diagnosed as WKS victims due to malnourishment. TAYAD launches European hunger strikes after death of 120 prisoners.

Rights Activists Rise to Defend Keskin

Human rights activists stand up for IHD Istanbul branch former chair Eren Keskin after group of women organizations make her public target in newspaper ads. IHD chairman Alatas says Keskin is marked. IHDG: This is an unacceptable lynch campaign.

8 June 2006 Tolga Korkut

Author Elif Safak Under Investigation

Best-seller Turkish author Elif Safak asked to testify for new book Father and Bastard. Safak and Metis Publishing House may be tried for insulting Turkishness after prosecution concludes investigation.

8 June 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

IHD Calls For End to F-Type Prisons

Human Rights Association says 7 people are still on death strike in Turkey protesting prison conditions while 128 have already died on hunger strikes as conditions left hundreds crippled. Calls for all prisons to be open to monitoring by civilians.

Human Rights Reforms Slowed AI Says

Torture and ill-treatment continued to be reported, with those detained for ordinary crimes particularly at risk. Law enforcement officers continued to use excessive force in the policing of demonstrations; four demonstrators were shot dead in November.

Forced Disappearance Conference Starts

International Conference on Enforced Disappearance Under custody is being held between May 16-20. 46 delegates from 17 countries attending conference. ICADs Selcuk says: We want the opening of mass graves, an end to disappearances and prosecutions.

16 May 2006 Emine Özcan

Erzincan Bomb Kills 4 Children

The number of children killed by an explosion while playing with a parcel reportedly containing a timed bomb reached 4 on Sunday with 6 year-old Umut Turkmen losing his life in intensive care.

Rector Parlak Clubs Down Criticism

Students beaten by police for protesting privatization of Istanbul University refectory charge Rector Parlak for encouraging truncheon and gas attack. Unions, academics filing criminal complaints:The answer to democratic requests is truncheons.

5 May 2006 Ayşe Gökçe Susam

Turkeys New ECHR Bill: 33,000 in a Week

DEP MPs Alinak, Sakik and Turk win claims. ECHR rules in favor of claimants in 3 cases - sentences Turkey to pay 33,052 in compensation for complaints under freedom of expression. It also criticizes journalist Ergins trial by a Turkish military tribunal.

5 May 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Press Warns Government On Terror Bill

Journalist associations TGC, ÇGD and G9 warn government on new Anti Terror Law to be debated at Parliament Justice Commission on May 10. NGOs say law will restrict freedom of press, may revive anti-democratic regulations of post-coup era.

4 May 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Military Court Defies Medical Science

Military Court of Appeals reference to homosexuality as an advanced psychological disorder in total objector Tarhan case draws scientific reaction. The physicians and psychiatries say definition is wrong, homosexuality is neither disease nor disorder.

4 May 2006 Tolga Korkut

Military Court Defies EHCR Rulings

Military Court of Appeals rules ECHR decisions on conscientious objection not abiding for Turkey. Homosexuality is an advanced psychological disorder the court says and orders objector Tarhan to serve the military.

3 May 2006 Tolga Korkut

Anti-Terror Schemes May Encourage Torture

Izmir Bar Association Lawyer Erkem says new Anti-Terror Law to prevent access to lawyers, opening the way for torture. Single attorney restriction and 24 hour ban on legal access topped with limitations on examining of files is to cover up for torture and

26 April 2006 Tolga Korkut

Publishers Troubled with Restrictive Laws

Prof. Oran, Government has retreated in face of Turkish nationalism; Finkel, its no use if journalists have no courage; Lawyer Ilkiz, Public Morality cannot be entrusted to the Obscenity Commission; Lawyer Inanici: 301 designed to reinforce...

18 April 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

HRW Turkeys Researcher Sugden Detained

HRW researcher, Jonathan Sugden, was detained by regular police in the town of Bingol, on April 12 during investigation on allegations by Turkish paramilitary police, gendarmes. The organization chair Holly Cartner protests against governmnents attitude.

AI: Recent Violations Must Be Investigated

Amnesty International calls on the Turkish government to investigate all allegations of human rights violations arising in the context of recent violent protests in the south-east of the country and spreading through sporadic incidents to Istanbul.

Murat Belge Still on Trial

Citing statue of limitation an Istanbul court dropped charges against four leading Turkish columnists tried for publicly criticizing court decision to halt an Istanbul conference on Armenian issue. But the case continues columnist Murat Belge.

12 April 2006 Erol Önderoğlu

Civil Disobedience Against Penal Code

A new civil disobedience action against the anti-democratic articles of the new Penal Code will start on March 28, 2006 Tuesday, at 10:00 AM. A press statement by the first signatories will be made in front of Besiktas Justice House in Istanbul.

Military Court Releases Objector

The Military Court of Cassation has overturned a 4-year prison sentence handed to conscientious objector Tarhan and decided to release him. We re a bit disappointed because Mehmet will be taken to the military recruiting office, said his lawyer.

10 March 2006 Tolga Korkut

The Zarakolu Price Goes to Info-Turk Editors

The Istanbul IHD has decided to attribute the Ayse Zarakolu Price for Freedom of Thought (2006) to Info-Turk editors Özgüden and Tugsavul along with Kisanak, Yilmaz and Karaca. The price award ceremony took place on the International Women Day.