RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 92

Three Academics Sentenced to 1 Year, 3 Months in Prison

Three Academics Sentenced to 1 Year, 3 Months in Prison

Having their final hearings at the İstanbul 32nd Heavy Penal Court, three academics have been sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for having signed the peace declaration. The announcement of their verdicts has been suspended.

1 July 2019 Hikmet Adal

Second Verdict in Ergenekon Case: Organization Cannot be Detected

Second Verdict in Ergenekon Case: Organization Cannot be Detected

In the Ergenekon case, the court has ruled for the acquittal of all defendants charged with “establishing, leading, being members of, aiding, abetting armed organization”. Perpetrators of State Council, Cumhuriyet attacks have been given life sentence.

Osman Kavala's Statement of Defense: This Indictment is a Fantastic Fiction

Osman Kavala's Statement of Defense: This Indictment is a Fantastic Fiction

We are publishing excerpts from the English version of arrested businessperson and rights defender Osman Kavala’s statement of defense that he presented in his first hearing held in Silivri Prison Campus in İstanbul on June 24, 2019.

Lawsuit for Damages by AKP’s Binali Yıldırım Against Daily Evrensel

Lawsuit for Damages by AKP’s Binali Yıldırım Against Daily Evrensel

Ruling AKP’s İstanbul Metropolitan Mayoral candidate Binali Yıldırım has filed a lawsuit for damages against daily Evrensel, which reported on social media posts about him. Yıldırım has requested 25 thousand Turkish Lira in damages from the newspaper.

One Soldier Loses His Life in Hakkari

One Soldier Loses His Life in Hakkari

After the PKK launched an attack against the Altıntepe base area in Çukurca, Hakkari, a conflict erupted between them and security forces. Contract soldier Kadir Yıldırım has lost his life in the conflict.

‘Why does the Ministry of Interior Interfere in Patriarch Election?’

‘Why does the Ministry of Interior Interfere in Patriarch Election?’

HDP Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan has submitted a Parliamentary question and asked Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu why the Ministry of Interior has been interfering in the election of a new Armenian Patriarch of Turkey.

Constitutional Court President: Kavala's Attendance in Gezi Not Sign of an Offense

Constitutional Court President: Kavala's Attendance in Gezi Not Sign of an Offense

Judge Arslan said in his dissenting opinion that it is not the Constitutional Court's duty to approve different views on the Gezi protests whether it was a criticism of the government or a foreign-sponsored insurrection.

Letter of Support by Law Society of England and Wales for Lawyer Veysel Ok

Letter of Support by Law Society of England and Wales for Lawyer Veysel Ok

Sending a letter to President Erdoğan, the Law Society of England and Wales has requested the discontinuation of the indictment and proceedings against MLSA Co-Director lawyer Veysel Ok for “denigrating the Turkish judicial system".

Prosecutor Demands Penalization of Seven Defendants, Whose Case Files were Separated

Prosecutor Demands Penalization of Seven Defendants, Whose Case Files were Separated

Announcing his opinion as to the accusations, the prosecutor has demanded penalization of seven defendants, whose case files were previously separated to prevent a possible violation of statute of limitations in Hrant Dink murder case.

Collective Memory Platform: This Lawsuit Means Saying 'Enough, Shush Now' to Opposition

Collective Memory Platform: This Lawsuit Means Saying 'Enough, Shush Now' to Opposition

The Collective Memory Platform has released a statement of solidarity for CHP İstanbul Chair Kaftancıoğlu, whose trial of “insulting the President” will start tomorrow: “This lawsuit was also filed against our search for justice, law and equality.”

Council of State Requests Defense from Presidency in Press Card Regulation Case

Council of State Requests Defense from Presidency in Press Card Regulation Case

The State Council has requested defense from the Presidency Directorate of Communications in the lawsuit filed by the Contemporary Journalists’ Association for the annulment of certain articles of press card regulation conflicting with the Constitution.

Joint Statement by Rights Organizations: Investigate Allegations of Torture

Joint Statement by Rights Organizations: Investigate Allegations of Torture

The Human Rights Association (İHD) and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) have made a joint statement for the press on June 26 Day of Solidarity with the Tortured and called the authorities to investigate the allegations of torture.

Teacher Çelik Acquitted Based on Constitutional Court Verdict

Teacher Çelik Acquitted Based on Constitutional Court Verdict

Çelik has been on retrial after receiving prison term for terrorist propaganda for saying, "Don't let children die," in a TV program.

Yiğit Aksakoğlu Released: There are Lots of Innocent People Behind Bars

Yiğit Aksakoğlu Released: There are Lots of Innocent People Behind Bars

Arrested on November 17, 2018, rights defender Yiğit Aksakoğlu has been released from prison after the court ruled that he should be released on probation with an international travel ban in its interlocutory judgement yesterday.

26 June 2019 Hikmet Adal

Stage Actor Masatçı Released After Five Months in Jail

Stage Actor Masatçı Released After Five Months in Jail

Masatçı was given prison term for staging a play in support of a conscientious objector.

İHD: Torture in Urfa Not Documented

İHD: Torture in Urfa Not Documented

The Human Rights Association (İHD) has released a statement on the incident of torture in Urfa, saying that the state officials violated "all articles" of the İstanbul Protocol.

Amnesty: 'Gezi Case Should be Dropped'

Amnesty: 'Gezi Case Should be Dropped'

The trial of the 2013 protests began today, with 16 civil society figures charged with various offenses including attempted overthrow.

HDP Requests Parliament to Investigate Claims of Torture

HDP Requests Parliament to Investigate Claims of Torture

MP Taşdemir has submitted a parliamentary inquiry regarding the claims of torture in prisons.

Civil Society Organizations from Germany: ‘Kavala and Aksakoğlu Should be Released’

Civil Society Organizations from Germany: ‘Kavala and Aksakoğlu Should be Released’

Seven organizations have released a joint statement on the Gezi Park trial which began today, demanding the case should be dropped.

24 June 2019 Gürsel Köksal

Osman Kavala and Yiğit Aksakoğlu Appear Before the Judge After Months

Osman Kavala and Yiğit Aksakoğlu Appear Before the Judge After Months

The 16-defendant Gezi trial has started today. While Osman Kavala has stood before the judge on the 601st day of his arrest, Aksakoğlu has appeared in court after 220 days. They have made their defense against the indictment.

24 June 2019 Hikmet Adal

Journalist Coşkun Acquitted of 'Insulting President'

Journalist Coşkun Acquitted of 'Insulting President'

Canan Coşkun was on trial for her article titled, "Erdoğan Ordered, Journalists Arrested."

World Medical Association Delivers Open Letter in Support of Doctors in Turkey

World Medical Association Delivers Open Letter in Support of Doctors in Turkey

Doctors from the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) were given prison terms for their declaration titled, "War is a Public Health Problem."

Police Officer Fined to Pay 19 Thousand Liras for Killing Two Siblings

Police Officer Fined to Pay 19 Thousand Liras for Killing Two Siblings

Police officer Ö.Y. crashed into a home while driving an armored vehicle in the southeastern province of Şırnak in 2017, killing two children.

Attack Killed Four Family Members in Urfa on Parliamentary Agenda

Attack Killed Four Family Members in Urfa on Parliamentary Agenda

Four people were killed in an armed attack after a land dispute in the southeastern province.

Presiding Judge: Why Didn’t You Make a Call to Terrorist Organization?

Presiding Judge: Why Didn’t You Make a Call to Terrorist Organization?

Two Academics for Peace have had their hearings at two courts. Presenting her statement of defense at the İstanbul 32nd Heavy Penal Court, Hazal Halavut has been asked by the Presiding Judge, “Why didn’t you make a call to the terrorist organization?”

Court to Await Constitutional Court Ruling on Academics for Peace

Court to Await Constitutional Court Ruling on Academics for Peace

Upon the request of lawyer Eyüboğlu, the court has ruled that the Constitutional Court ruling on Academics for Peace shall be awaited till a verdict is given for three academics. One academic has also been given a deferred prison sentence of 15 months.

19 June 2019 Tansu Pişkin

ECtHR Ruling on ‘Right to Education in Prison’ After 13 Years

ECtHR Ruling on ‘Right to Education in Prison’ After 13 Years

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has announced its ruling on two convicts who appealed to the court 13 years ago, wishing to continue their higher-education studies. The court has ruled that their right to education has been violated.

18 June 2019 Ayça Söylemez

Academic Sentenced to 25 Months for Signing a Petition Against War Crimes of Turkey

Academic Sentenced to 25 Months for Signing a Petition Against War Crimes of Turkey

Prof. Ayşe Gül Altınay signed a petition protesting Turkey's severe military belligerence against Kurds. President Erdogan called the document treasonous. Now the court has handed down its verdict: 25 months in prison. Altınay remains calm and unflinching.

17 June 2019 Rela Mazali

ECtHR Requests Turkey’s Defense in the Case of Journalist İdris Sayılğan

ECtHR Requests Turkey’s Defense in the Case of Journalist İdris Sayılğan

The ECtHR has requested Turkey’s defense in the case of journalist İdris Sayılğan, thereby requesting defense in a lawsuit filed against a journalist working in the Kurdish media for the first time since the coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

Journalist Dündar Meets Wife in Germany

Journalist Dündar Meets Wife in Germany

Journalist Can Dündar has been living in Germany because facing life sentence in Turkey, and his wife Dilek Dündar's passport has been confiscated by authorities.

Journalist Yavuz Selim Demirağ Released

Journalist Yavuz Selim Demirağ Released

Imprisoned yesterday for having insulted the then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2010, daily Yeniçağ columnist Yavuz Selim Demirağ has been released. Speaking to bianet, Demirağ has said, “Anything can happen at any time in Turkey.”

14 June 2019 Hikmet Adal

38 Face Lawsuit for Reporting, Commenting on Economic Crisis

38 Face Lawsuit for Reporting, Commenting on Economic Crisis

Journalists Karakaya and Yalınkılıç reported on the economic crisis in 2018. Now they and 36 others, including journalists and economists, who commented on the article face jail terms for "trying to weaken the economic order and stability of the state."