Margot Badran writes from Turkey on the implications of the recent reform of the 1926 Civil Code on womens rights in marriage and divorce

Lawyer Ozbek is concerned that the torture case is facing the risk of superannuating of the trial. During the last hearing of 10 police officers, four defense lawyers withdrew from the case. Nine had stepped down before.

To improve the agricultural production and marketing facilities in the GAP region, Harran plain farmers has founded AGRO GAP Pioneer Farmer Consultancy Association.

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One of the main purposes of the visit was to examine the implementation in practice of recent legal reforms concerning custody by law enforcement agencies.

GAP region exports dropped to 15.8 million dollars in the first quarter of 2002. Exports in the region totalled 26 million dollars in the first quarter of last year.

Two American companies take their cases to the ICSID, after their energy investments are halted by the Turkish government. The energy investments were blocked due to the World Banks opposition to Treasury-guaranteed contracts.

Bringing together thousands of demonstrators from all shades of Turkish public, weekend rallies in Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, witnessed solidarity slogans with Palestine jointly cried out by left-wingers as well as by Islamists and liberal peace activists.

The Peace Initiative, comprising academics, writers,artists, journalists and professionals, calls the Israeli government stop terror against Palestinian people, and urges the Turkish government suspend battle tank upgrading agreement with Israel.

In a stinging 14-page critique of the proposed law, President Sezer returned the amendments to parliament Monday, asking deputies to review the points that would open the door for big capital to establish their monopoly on media broadcasting.

Inhabtants of southeast city of Tunceli, react against spreading decay of the towns cultural characteristics. Tunceli people protest local authorities for spreading prostitution, and growing numbers of sniffers, street children.

In Edremit, 300 miles to the south of Istanbul women comprise the bulk of journalistic community and head the news centers in the two local newspapers. There should be no sexual discrimination in this field, the women journalists say.

Sugden: Years of monitoring human rights in Turkey have shown us that when one law is improved, another is pressed into service to restrict peaceful expression,

Sugden: By leaving most of these laws on the books, parliament has effectively passed the buck to the courts.

Istanbuls local Acik Radio, is silenced under controversial ruling by the Radio and Television Higher Council (RTUK). The radio is banned for two weeks for having aired a chapter from The Most Beautiful Girl in The Town in memoriam of Charles Bukowski.

Ankaras best hope is that its recently increased geopolitical value, post September 11th, may bring the country some additional economic opportunities. In this effort, Ecevit will be tirelessly making the rounds.

Publisher Tas, is due to appear in court on charges of publishing propaganda against the indivisible unity of the countryWAN

As the hunger strikes in Turkeys maximum security prisons enter into the 15th month, Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk has turned down a proposal by the major bar associations for a solution to the problem which has resulted in the death of 45 inmates.

According to reports leaking from the MGK meeting, Turkeys defense and security officials are concerned that the Kurdish demands for training in their mother tongue is not as innocent as it might appear.

Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC): The effect of such wide scale judicial action on the right to free expression in Turkey is extremely worrying.