Thousands gathered in Istanbul and Ankara, protesting the arrest of journalists in relation to the infamous KCK operations. Journalists, MPs, rights activists, union leaders condemn the latest police operation as the final nail on the coffin of freedom of expression in Turkey.

Two university students, who were arrested during a demonstration will remain in prison as the the prosecution fail to show any evidence for allegations against them. Another student, who had been a symbol of freedom of expression violations against the youth, is condemned to 20 months in prison.

A 60-year-old inmate had been denied medical care because she didn't speak Turkish and even popular columnists' writings are banned in Sincan F-Type prison facilities, according to the latest report by ÇHD.

More than 25 journalists were taken into police custody on 21 December during crackdowns on offices of news agencies and newspapers in several cities. The raids and custodies are part of the "KCK operation".

The Un Human Rights Commission published its first global report on human rights violations of LGBT individuals. It urges for immediate investigations of all forms of violence and murder cases committed on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity in 193 countries.

Four days ago, conscientious objector Delice started a hunger strike because he was allegedly beaten and forced to pay protection money. According to his lawyer Erkan, torture in prison is done systematically.

A military operation on the Görese Mountain in Diyarbakır started four days ago. According to the governor, "15 PKK members were killed". Access to the region was denied to members of the Peace and Democracy Party.

Police officer G.B. was sentenced to a monetary fine of TL 2;500 because he sexually harassed a women who applied for protection. Lawyer Keskin criticised insufficient penalties foreseen by the Turkish Criminal Law regarding violence against women.

Council of Europe Commissioner of Human Rights Hammarberg introduced the report "Human Rights and a Changing Media Landscape" in London last week. He drew attention to oppressive government attacks on the media due to its power.

Minister of the Interior Şahin criticized the news about Cengiz who was beaten by the police. According to the minister, this was a single incident and the news was exaggerated. He questioned, "What do you want? Should I put up the gallows and hang my personnel?"

The fourth hearing of the "Everybody is born as a baby" trial against Savda, Aydemir and Atak, supporters of conscientious objector Aydemir, was held on 14 December. The defendants' request to consult a gynaecologist on the topic was dismissed.

Defectors from the Syrian military and intelligence agencies told their stories in interviews with Human Rights Watch.

Birgün reporter Aşam was sentenced to one year in jail on the grounds of supportive information of a news item published in January this year. Her signature was not under the main news but under a box with additional information.

According to data compiled by bianet, 20 women were killed by men in October 2011. 22 women were wounded, seven women raped. From January to October 2011, a total of 226 women were killed and 93 were raped.

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Mijatovic paid her first official visit to Turkey to talk to government officials about media freedom. Prior to the talks she attended a panel of the Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences on freedom of expression.

117 students of the Middle East Technical University stand trial in the context of a protest action against the government and YÖK. The students put forward that they used their legal right to attend the related press release. The trial will be continued on 16 March.

Seven investigation and two trials were opened against Kurdish singer Ferhat Tunç by reason of speeches made during the run-up to the general election in June. Tunç claims his speeches were peaceful messages and did not intend to encourage the people to rebellion.

BDP Deputy Ertuğrul Kürkçü and CHP MP Şafak Pavey launched a discussion in Parliament upon their statements on the European Union and Cyprus. Kürkçü said that the Kurdish question and Cyprus were the fundamental problems of the country that needed to be discussed to find a solution.

According to a study into the "Use of the Internet and Social Media" of the KONDA research company, 57 percent of the Turkish population do not use the internet at all. 41 percent deems it harmful and the section of society using it the least is the electorate of the AKP.

In 2004, two members of the National Intelligence Agency allegedly gave slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink a lesson on where his place was at a meeting at the Governor's Office. The related investigation was now time-barred.