The charges stem from Özgüns 1998 new trial petition in which he accused security forces of brutality in southeastern Anatolia and of murdering journalists belonging to pro-Kurdish newspapers.

OMCT is gravely concerned for the psychological and physical integrity of Ms. Gündüz and calls on the government of Turkey to initiate an immediate, impartial investigation into these allegations.

The actors and actresses protested the seizure of a fly swatter used in a theatre play Gavara during a culture festival in Hakkari. The fly swatter was seized because of its colors.

The purpose of military service is to kill, said journalist Guncikan; according to writer Asena military service is slavery. Student BK wants to become a soldier but she supports conscientious objectors.

RTUK ordered Radio Dunya off the air for a month for broadcasting a program in Kurdish. Ozic said the recent reforms in Turkey allowed Kurdish broadcasts.

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Lawyer Keskin said the amendments to the Turkish Penal Code about sexual torture and rape, were inadequate. Criticizing the fact that complaint was necessary for the pursuit of rape, She said the amendments did not make it easier to prove sexual torture

United Democrats and the Patriotic Unity Movement YBH respectively, have met in Nicosia on the 30th of May 2003 to discuss the current situation in Cyprus.

Lawyer Yalcindag, Human Rights Association chair, criticized the court decision to free 22 defendants charged with raping 13-year-old N.C., pending the outcome of the trial. He said they would object to the decision and closely follow the developments.

Gulbahar Gunduz, who was kidnapped and raped by four men who said they were police officers was threatened not to be involved in politics. This incident is part of a systematic policy, said Tuncer, head of DEHAPs womens branch.

Bruinessen says The Kurds have always had the idea of a Kurdish State. According to him Iraqi Kurds had no choice but to ask United States support. Bruinessen claims: KADEK wants to begin negotiations with Turkey via US.

The public prosecutor claims a prison term of up to six years against Özgüden and Karaca, for the articles that they had written to the review Türkiyede ve Avrupada Yazin. Editor Sert risks a heavy fine for having published these articles.

WiPC, International PEN campaigns on the imprisonment of the Kurdish politician Zana, whose case the WiPC has recently adopted, having established that she has writing credentials and that her imprisonment is in part a deliberate punishment for her exerc

The number of journalists imprisoned in Turkey has steadily dropped in recent years - 13 were in jail at years end, mostly for being affiliated with outlawed groups publications legal harassment of the media continued.

According to a report by BIAs Legal Branch; 2 journalists were arrested in 2002, 21 are still being tried, and 12 were attacked. RTUK ordered TVs and radios off the air for 2,921 days. BIA provides legal assistance to media organizations since 2000.

Despite the announcement of democratic reforms prosecutions for beliefs and opinions are still systematically and severely punished by virtue of a repressive legislative arsenal aimed at protecting the state against Kurds, Islamists and far left.

Nebahat Akkoc, a Kurdish primary school teacher, convinced that the road to peace begins at home, formed Women Center Ka-Mer. Her campaign has pitted her against many Goliaths. There are women centers in 7 cities, offering abuse hotlines and day-care now.

Kara, who stood trial for five separate cases, was sentenced to a year in prison. The court also handed Kara a fine of 20 billion Turkish lira. The journalist was acquitted in one of the cases and another trial was postponed till June 16.

Police confiscated a number of confidential files and computers of Human Rights Association, some of which contain information on human rights violations perpetrated by the security forces.

U.S. Representative Cardin and Human Rights Watch Turkey Researcher Jonathan Sugden on the occasion of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) Hearing on Internally Displaced Persons this past Tuesday.