RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 271

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

12 September: Human Rights Violations

171 people died of torture, 49 were executed. 650,000 people were arrested for no reason.

14 September 2007 Hüsnü Öndül

Academics' Acquittal Overruled

The Supreme Court of Appeals has overruled the acquittal of Prof. Oran and Prof. Kaboglu.

14 September 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Turkey's "Separatism" Cases at ECHR

On 20 September, the European Court of Human Rights will be busy with Turkey...

14 September 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

"Police Cover Up in Okey's Death"

The Contemporary Lawyers' Association (CHD) calls for police officers, responsible for Nigerian immigrant Okey off duty and an immediate investigation by the prosecution.

13 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

"Erdogan Must Be Joking"

Erdogan had said: "Our intellectuals keep too quiet." Oran and Insel have called on him to "think before talking".

13 September 2007 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

"End the Darkness of 12 September"

"End the Darkness of 12 September"

The day after tomorrow (12 September) is the 27th anniversary of the 1980 military coup, and the day will be marked by various NGOs.

11 September 2007 Nayat Karaköse

Joint Call for Abolition of Article 301

International PEN, Article 19 and IPA have called on Turkey to abolish the controversial Article 301.

11 September 2007

"Military Authority has Damaged Judiciary Independence"

The Modern Lawyers' Association opened the new judiciary year with a discussion on independence of judges.

10 September 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Tugluk and Ata Still on Trial

The continuation of trials against Tugluk and Ata is based on a certain interpretation of Article 14 of the Constitution.

9 September 2007 Gökçe Gündüç

Singer Tunc Still Accused of Spreading Terorrist Propaganda

Singer Ferhat Tunc had called for peace, reminding people that PKK and MKP members who die are also "children of this country". His comments have landed him in court.

5 September 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Turkey Peace Parliament: Results Report

The first plenum of the Turkey Peace Parliament on 1 September has resulted in a report, a summary of which is given below.

4 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

Turkey Peace Parliament: Do Not Ignore Kurdish Question

Turkey Peace Parliament: Do Not Ignore Kurdish Question

Following a conference in January which convened to look for peaceful solutions to the Kurdish question, the Turkey Peace Parliament assembled in Ankara on 1 September, Peace Day. The AKP government has been called on to stop pretending to act and to look for solutions.

4 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

Lawyer on Trial for Insulting Kerincsiz

Lawyer Yücel Sayman has joined the list of people who have been brought to court by Kemal Kerincsiz and his Great Lawyer's Union.

4 September 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Peace Day: We Need New Policies

On Peace Day (1 September), Turkish organisations called on the newly-formed government to follow policies based on rights and to protect democracy.

3 September 2007 Ayça Örer

hCa Condemns Refugee Death in Police Custody

After Nigerian refugee Festus Okey was killed in police custody on 20 August, the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly has condemned police violence.

31 August 2007 Tolga Korkut,Ismail Saymaz

New Constitution Must Be Pluralist

New Constitution Must Be Pluralist

Parties of the left have reacted to announcements that the AKP has completed a draft of a new, "civil" constitution: All strata of society need to be considered and consulted. Otherwise, this will not be a democratic constitution.

24 August 2007 Gökçe Gündüç

Stop Discrimination say Transsexuals

The recent murder of transsexual Ece in Bursa has again highlighted the plight of transvestites and transsexuals in Turkey. Deprived of education and work, they are forced into prostitution.

24 August 2007 Ayça Örer

Arrested for Protesting Against Disappearance

Abdurrahman Tasci of the pro-Kurdish DTP has been arrested because of his involvement in a protest against the disappearance of two HADEP politicians in 2001. The ECHR has ordered Turkey to pay compensation for the disappearance.

14 August 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Activists Petition Against 301

The Commission for Freedom of Expression of the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) congregated at the Galatasaray post office in central Istanbul to protest against anti-democratic laws, primarily Article 301.

14 August 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Prisoners Denied Newspapers

Folllowing the complaint by a prisoner, the IHD has appealed to the Penal Execution Judge and the Ministry of Justice to let newspapers and periodicals into prisons. Otherwise, the right to inform is violated.

14 August 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Undue Influence of Military in Semdinli Trial

After the initial prison sentence of two suspect army officers was revoked by the court of appeals, lawyers of the third party involved have spoken of a cover-up. They may apply to the European Court of Human Rights.

18 May 2007 Tolga Korkut