General İlker Başbuğ, Chief of General Staff, said to think well when publishing news about terrorism. At the same time, journalists are facing severe prison sentences related to news and interviews concerned with the Democratic Society Party or the PKK.

"Resign, Aliye Kavaf" was written on the banner in the protest of the Pink Life LGBTT Association. The organization filed a criminal complaint against Minister Kavaf who said "Homosexuality is a disease and should be treated".

Alper Ateş was acquitted in the first hearing related to addressing the Prime Minister with the curse "God damn you". Ateş claimed he had "only told the truth about his living conditions". M.B.G., who stands accused of similar allegations, will have to appear before the court on 5 April.

Reporters Without Borders added Turkey and Russia to the organization's "under surveillance" list published in the latest report on 12 March. "Taboo topics" for Turkey are quoted as mainly related to Atatürk, the army, minorities and the dignity of the nation.

"If the draft bill comes into effect, children will be prosecuted at juvenile courts instead of high criminal courts. Nevertheless, the children will still be treated as offenders of terror crimes. The problems will increase and intensify", said Uçum form the Justice for Children Group.

The prosecutor demanded to drop the case against publisher Taş regarding the book "The water of Avaşin is blue" by prescription. The Istanbul court acquitted Taş who stood accused of "spreading PKK propaganda". Another twelve cases are pending against the publisher.

A total of 41 people died in the earthquake on 8 March. Without exception, the casualties occurred in old houses built from mud-bricks. Plans regarding the preparation before and the crisis management after an earthquake were incomplete and not taken into action.

"Turkey would be nicer without the threat of imprisonment". This was said by British collage artist Dickinson, who depicted President Erdoğan as the dog of former US President Bush. Dickinson was sentenced to 425 days imprisonment; his sentence was converted into a monetary fine and lifted at last.

Former Minister of Labour and Social Security Ziya Halis is the chairman of Turkey's new left-wing party EDP. The Party for Equality and Democracy will be merged with the Social Democratic People's Party in a convention on 13 March.

Belgium Courts decided to prosecute Kongra-Gel leader Kartal together with PKK member Aydar and four other people in the context of the PKK operation in Belgium. In three French cities, employees of Roj TV and their family members were arrested.

Publisher Sancı and interpreter Yerguz face prison sentences on the grounds of the books "The fairy's pendulum", "The exploits of a young Don Juan" and "Letters of a well-mannered and knowledgeable bourgeois women". Lawyer Sakal: 'Publishing becomes a crime because of a lack of reforms'.

A group of students from the Izmir Economics University's Department for Media and Communication visited the bianet offices on 8 March. The news site editors informed the students about the work of bianet, its publication policies and independent journalism.

Director and actor Haldun Açıksözlu stands trial under charges of "insulting the prime minister" in the theatre play "Laz Marks". The show has been playing for one year in cooperation with the Leman Culture and 'Canşenlik' Actors.

DTP Iskenderun official Aydıncı was sentenced to a TL 1,500 monetary fine for addressing imprisoned PKK leader Öcalan as "respectable". Demokrat newspaper owner Korkmaz was acquitted though has pending another trial for six years.

Colonel Karadağ, detained defendant of the Ergenekon case, gave his statement in the "Sledgehammer" investigation. The Istanbul court declined the appeals of the 33 detained retired and active military officers for their release.

The women's organization KA.DER issued the third "Report on the Representation of Gender Equality in Turkey". Turkey, "still resisting to gender equality on the 100th anniversary of the World Women's Day on 8 March", gained zero credits in the 2010 report.

Atılım newspaper journalists Küçükbattal and Mat will be kept in detention until 28 May. The journalists stand accused of participating in the destruction of a base station in Istanbul. Both defendants claim to have followed the incident as journalists.

The Radio and Television Supreme Council admonished ATV Europe by reason of the news about the population ratio of one woman in six men in Mongolia. The Council furthermore required justifications from Show TV, ATV, Star TV, Flash TV and Cine 5.

An earthquake of 6.0 on the Richter scale rocked the region of the south-eastern province of Elazığ with its epicentre in the Karakoçan County in the early morning hours of 8 March. Latest numbers speak of 57 casualties and more than 60 injured.

The Belgium police may keep KONGRA-GEL Chair Kartal, Aydar and another six people arrested in last week's raids in detention until 9 March. Kurdish television channel Roj TV claims a loss of € 1.2 million due to the operations. Kurds in several European countries voiced their protest.