Rallying in front of the courthouse ahead of fourth hearing of Cumhuriyet trial and fifth hearing of Özgür Gündem trial, journalists and rights defenders have demanded release of imprisoned journalists.

The fifth hearing of Özgür Gündem main lawsuit in which Özgür Gündem Consultant Board members are standing trial, was held today. Defenders İnan Kızılkaya and Kemal Sancılı have been relesed on condition of international travel ban. Next hearing will be on March 6.

President Erdoğan has filed a criminal complaint against CHP Deputy Chair and party spokesperson Tezcan, who called Erdoğan “a fascist dictator”.

Six attorneys from the Progressive Legists’ Association’s İzmir Branch have been released following their questioning by the Prosecutor’s Office after being kept in detention for four days.

Speaking about the resignation of Uğur, who declared that he was threatened, government spokesperson Bozdağ has said, “It is a personal choice” and added that legal channels are open with respect to threat.

The fourth hearing in Cumhuriyet Trial, in which 20 defendants, five of whom are in detention pending trial, will be held today before İstanbul 27th Assize Court in Çağlayan.

Among the mayors who were asked to resign, Balıkesir Mayor Uğur has resigned from his post and party, and added: I’ve been threatened.

Teacher Nazife Onay, who was discharged from her position through a statutory decree and protested to “get back her job”, has been arrested for the second time.

Conscientious objector İnan Mayıs Aru who was standing trial for draft evasion, has been sentenced to five months in prison. The prison sentence was converted to a fine of 3,000 TL.

AKP Deputy Chair and its Spokesperson Ünal has commented on resignation of Ankara Mayor Gökçek.

İstanbul Eyüp Municipality’s ill-treatment against street dogs has been protested in front of the municipality. The street dogs as well joined the protest.

The employees of Cumhuriyet daily have been in jail pending trial for 365 days as of today. 365 journalists, writers, artists and attorneys have demanded freedom for the journalists.

Speaking to bianet concerning imprisoned journalists and detention of Kavala in turkey, Chomsky has said, “This is a severe blow to Turkish freedom and democracy”.

The Journalists Outside initiative has made a call via a march held in Kadıköy for Cumhuriyet and Özgür Gündem trials.

Four people were detained in Myanmar on Sunday including two freelance reporters from Turkey’s national public broadcaster, TRT World.

Organized per annum upon bianet’s call, journalism field meetings have been held under the titles of Human Rights, Freedom of Expression and Gender based journalism, and with the participation of NGO representatives.

Human Rights Association İzmir Branch has stated that in the last 14 months, 23 people have lost their lives after being hit by armoured vehicles, 6 others have been killed in fire opened from these vehicles and demanded to put an end to the impunity regarding these crimes.

Holding a speech at the opening ceremony of Melike Hatun Mosque, President Erdoğan said that there had once been an attempt to leave Ankara without a mosque and added “They left new cities as well without a mosque, call to prayer and a soul”.

Criticism has been growing over the construction plan covering the Bakırköy Mental and Neurological Diseases Hospital that hosts 17,000 trees. Chamber of Architects Trakya Region Director Fazlıoğlu says, “Our demand is that the Parliament cancels the construction plan”.

Police raided apartments, offices of attorneys from Progressive Legists’ Association, detained 6 lawyers. Attorney Yeşil from the association said that the attorneys were working on the Soma Case regarding the occupational homicide in Soma mine, where 301 miners had lost their lives.