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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Helsinki Commission urges Countries to repeal Criminal Defamation & Insult Laws. Theyre actively used against those who criticize their governments in a number of other OSCE participating states including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Greece and Turkey.

In 1996, policemen, who claimed his daughter had escaped to the mountains, raped Kaze Ozlu with sticks. Ozlu took his case to the ECHR. He is now being pressured to back down.

Baskaya is being sued for his book Articles Against the Flow, on grounds of article 159/1 of the Turkish Penal Code.

Former army chief of staff gives up any idea of appeal in lawsuit over predator photo. The court ordered Gen. Kivrikoglu to pay costs and 2,000 euros in damages to RSF. It hands over this sum to Benli, Evcimen, Horuz and Sirin who are in prison.

Elci, a housewife in Bingol cannot understand the polices harsh reaction toward the people. The people could even revolt. Do they have to respond with guns? she asked.

Turkeys Kurds and particularly the Kurdish guerrillas, contrary to Ankaras nightmares have apparently distanced themselves from the emergent Kurdish administration in Northern Iraq instead of finding a there a role model for their future.

The traditional outdoor rally will take place in the Caglayan Square where trade union leaders will address participants from unions, left parties and youth and intellectuals. 50 thousand is expected to come together in İstanbul rally.

Broadcast Editor of Adanas local Radyo Dunya Ozic is tried for airing a program in Kurdish, titled Kurdish Language and Literature. The final decision depends on a related State Council case.

Human Rights Associations Diyarbakir branch revealed that 24 people died and 45 injured from landmine explosions and other leftover explosives between 2002-2003. Most of those who died were children.

Developments have not been positive in the implementation of human rights and particularly of preventing torture, in the first quarter of 2003 Human Rights Association (IHD) report says: 183 people have been subject to torture and ill treatment.