Journalist Sirin, who was sentenced to 17.5 years for being a member of an illegal organization, and who has been in prison for 8.5 years, was released due to amendments to the Turkish Penal Code.

Turkish truck drivers are complaining that the government is indifferent to increasing numbers of drivers dying at the hands of Islamic resistance fighters in Iraq No one forces us to go to Iraq but we cannot find work here so we go, said one driver.

Izmirs Aliaga district mayoralty introduces support and guidance service for the protection of village women from domestic violence. Volunteered by 13 women ABKAM conducts surveys with support from village headmen.

Members of Turkeys minority groups denounce violent reactions against the Prime Ministrys working group on Rights of Minorities. Lawyer Bakar calls for full implementation of Laussane Treaty, while Alevite researcher Sener welcomes the debate.

3rd Administrative Court in Adana lifted the ban on the local Radyo Dünya for airing Kurdish music during a Turkish language program. Broadcaster Öziç also acquitted of the charges of acting against the orders of authorities.

The Draft Law on Execution of Penalties, introducing forced labor, uniforms, defining silent protests as disciplinary crimes and imposing solitary confinement aimes at legalizing psychological torture, say human rights activists.

Police Headquarters, in great self-sacrifice, cooperate with RTUK and do monitoring and recording in places RTUK does not have facilities, said RTUK head Fatih Karaca during the opening ceremony of the Monitoring Units Training Seminar.

Attorneys of Kutlular the owner of daily Yeni Asya and Şirin, the writer of daily Selam who were sentenced to 2 years and 1 year 8 months respectively are going to appeal to supreme court for the correction of their sentences.

The BİA² third quarterly Media Monitoring Report for the period July-September 2004 deals with 26 court cases and 69 journalists. Two journalists are threatened by ruling AKP officials and a daily is heavily fined for a cartoon critical of Erdogan.

5 press workers arrested during a police raid on the offices of Dicle News Agency (DIHA) and Ozgür Halk newspaper prior to the June NATO Summit in Istanbul are indicted with having affiliations with and assisting an illegal organization.

Local publisher Bogatekin faces fine for the printing houses omittance of the date and address of his company in a past issue of Gerger Firat paper. Albeit reduced to 2,5 percent of the original after new laws the publisher is still dissentient to pay.

RSFs third annual worlwide press freedom index says East Asia and Middle East have worst press freedom recordsEU members among the first 40; Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia lag behind. The greatest press freedom is found in northern Europe.

The Green Group in the European Parliament, in a public statement after 3-day meeting in Istanbul, encourages Turkish government for further change, and for taking the European Commission advise seriosuly in the negotiations for full membership.

Hurriyet reporter Karakurt, who was detained for interviewing Kurdish militant Karayilan on the Kandil Mountain, and writing about the lives of militants, was detained by the police and later released. TGC ve the Press Council condemned his detention.

A Datca court acquitted Kara as a result of the amendments to the Press Law. He, the former owner of daiy Datca News , was standing trial for not delivering the local official two copies of the dailies. He had been jailed for the same reason before.

RSF has drawn attention to the continuing problems for press freedom in Turkey on the eve of a visit to Paris by Turkish PrimeMinister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today.

Gur from DEHAP, Tuzel from EMEP, Kozanoglu from ODP and Kocali from SDP talked about their views on the EU, and commented on the EU progress report on Turkey. They argued that the report was inadequate in reflecting shortcomings in democratic rights.

TIHV and IHD chairs argued that prime minister is not being democratic in his messages toward human rights organizations, and in his speech at the EC. They said its wrong to make a connection between voicing human rights violations and terrorism.

Incesu, a caricaturist of daily Ulkede Ozgur Gundem said the international community would not understand why daily Evrensel was fined for a caricature. Kart from the daily Cumhuriyet drew a stick man to represent the prime minister in his caricature.

Military control over RTUK ceases, yet radio broadcast bans continue says the report BİA² media monitoring report. 11 cases against 13 journalists have continueed; 6 journalists have been detained during July-September period.