The Ministry of Interior has launched an investigation into the decision of Dersim Municipal Council, which previously decided by majority of votes to change its “Tunceli Municipality” signboard as “Dersim Municipality.”

Imprisoned academic Füsun Üstel’s request for stay of execution has been rejected. While the upper court has also rejected the objection of her lawyers against this ruling, one of the judges has expressed a dissenting opinion, referring to freedom of expression.

Giving out Agos newspaper free of charge at its newspaper stands in international terminals since 2013, Turkish Airlines (THY) has unilaterally terminated its contract with Agos. The weekly newspaper will no longer be on the THY newspaper stands.

According to the economic growth figures announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), Turkey’s economy has shrunk by 2.6 percent in the first three months of 2019. The construction sector has shrunk by 10.9 percent in this period.

The High Council of the Press Council of Turkey has sent a letter to six assaulted journalists: “These unacceptable attacks aim to disregard people’s right to obtain information and frighten and intimidate journalists.”

NASA worker Serkan Gölge has spoken to Reuters after being released from prison in Turkey: “Unfortunately, I cannot leave the country and go back to the United States. At least, I can say that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

The election campaign tent of main opposition CHP has been attacked twice in the district of Büyükçekmece. As CHP Büyükçekmece District Chair Gökbulak has filed a criminal complaint, an investigation has been launched into the incident.

Main opposition CHP’s Group Deputy Chair Özgür Özel has spoken about the “Judicial Reform Strategy” announced by President Erdoğan: “It is one of those days when separation of powers is trampled upon and one-man rule is confirmed.”

Speaking to bianet regarding the Judicial Reform Strategy, rights defender lawyer Eren Keskin has said, “They said zero-tolerance to torture, but we have just met a 5-month pregnant inmate today, who was subjected to naked torture in prison."

Academics for Peace Filiz Arıöz and Tezcan Durna have been sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison on charge of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization.” The pronouncement of both verdicts has been suspended.

President and ruling AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has introduced the Judicial Reform Strategy in a statement for the press. The strategy consist of two basic perspectives, nine aims, 63 objectives and 256 activities.

Examining the individual applications of 10 Academics for Peace signatory to the declaration “We will not be a party to this crime”, the Constitutional Court has postponed the meeting as the Ministry of Justice did not submit the requested “opinion”.

Şahin Şeker, a car park owner who was previously taken into custody for having battered woman worker Gaye Akıl and another male worker in the district of Beşiktaş in İstanbul, has been released by the Prosecutor's Office.

Releasing a fact sheet regarding the bans on LGBTI+ events in Ankara, the Kaos GL has stated, “All events pertaining to LGBTI+ rights in Ankara have been banned by the Governorship’s decision, whose judicial process is still continuing.”

Preparing a preliminary report on the allegations of torture in Halfeti, Urfa, the Foundation for Society and Legal Studies (TOHAV) has requested that an investigation be launched against investigating bodies, public officers and physicians.

Responding to the 2019 Progress Report on Turkey released by the EU, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kaymakçı has said, “Criticisms about the functioning of judiciary cannot be accepted. Important steps are being taken in the field of judiciary.”

Imprisoned yesterday for the execution of his 30-month prison sentence upheld by the court of appeal, journalist Kadri Gürsel has been released from Metris Prison later in the evening as his request for probation has been accepted.

The European Union (EU) has released its Progress Report on Turkey for 2019. The report has underlined that there has been a serious backsliding in the fields of freedom of expression, human and fundamental rights and economy.

His friends and family have met in front of Silivri Prison to celebrate the birthday of Yiğit Aksakoğlu, the Netherlands-based Bernard van Leer Foundation’s Representative to Turkey who has been behind bars since November 17, 2018.

In her article entitled “The Gap Between Ayşe and Elif” as part of her “Long Story” article series, Umay Aktaş Salman from the Education Reform Initiative has underlined that the educational expenses of the rich are 23 times higher than those of the poor.