The bodies of 28 mine workers who died in a gas explosion on 17 May were found on Thursday. The explosion happened in a mine of the Turkish Coal Corporation Karadon Enterprise Directorate in Zonguldak (Black Sea coast). Two workers are still missing.

It is almost impossible to found an association for young people in Turkey. There are 614 youth associations, which amounts to a mere 0.7 percent of all Turkish associations. Young people can open "clubs" upon the approval of the Home Office, universities face prohibitions.

DİHA reporter Pınar Ural claims to have been attacked and threatened in a public bus after she had covered a students' action on the campus of the Istanbul Technical University. Ural is going to file a complaint. The bus company investigates the incident.

Berrin Trusun, mother of Baran Tursun who was killed by the police, received a prison sentence of more than 5 months because of her reaction against the court decision to release the responsible police officer in the first hearing pending trial. The pronouncement of the judgement was postponed.

Deputy Prime Minister Çiçek said at the UN Human Rights Council that "judicial decisions related to press freedom are given only for the reason of propaganda for a terrorist organization". Yet, both the Anti-Terror Law and the Criminal Code are full of restrictions...

DİHA reporter Eskin was released pending trial after 5 months in detention. He was arrested when he was covering a demonstration against conditions of detention for imprisoned PKK leader Öcalan. Eskin was handcuffed when he was taken to the hearing.

In a joint press release during the International Week against Enforced Disappearances, the families of the disappeared urged the Ergenekon prosecutors to try the Ergenekon defendants who are responsible for enforced disappearances for 'crimes against humanity'.

National and international journalists associations criticized the prison sentence of 166.5 years handed down to journalist Vedat Kurşun. The decision is viewed as highly disproportional and politically motivated. The associations urge for a review of the referring legislations.

Greek and Turkish left-wing parties Synaspismos and ÖDP called for gradually reducing the defence budget and re-allocate sources to economic, social and ecological development. Labour parties EEK and DİP demand to dispense military bases in Turkey and Greece.

Aram Publishing owner Bedri Adanır is tried for 38 books confiscated in a search and because of articles in 4 issues of the Kurdish Hawar newspaper. Adanır, editorial manager of the Hawar daily, has been in detention for more than 4 months now and faces 50 years imprisonment.

The Istanbul Chief prosecution dismissed the request to appoint a special prosecutor for the murder case of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. 3.5 years after the murder it is still not clear which public officials are responsible and who pulled the trigger.

Turkey was criticized by at least 15 of a total of 54 countries speaking at the UN Human Rights Council on 10 May. Harsh criticism was voiced on Turkey's tolerance towards torture and on oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people.

Six trials were opened against Radikal newspaper journalist Saymaz due to his coverage of the interrogation of defendants Cihnaner, Chief Public Prosecutor of Erzincan, and Şahin form the Special Operations Unit. Both defendants are tried related to the Ergenekon investigation.

Detained journalist Kurşun, former editorial manger of the Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper, was sentenced to 166 years and 6 months imprisonment under charges of "Membership of the PKK" and spreading PKK propaganda".

13 organizations for disabled people urged the government and local executives to implement the applications of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Disabled. During the World Disabled Week they pointed out problems of access to employment, education and health service.

The case against journalist Göktaş based on his book "The Hrant Dink Murder: Media, Judiciary, State" was postponed to June in order to obtain the statement of complainant Akyürek from an Ankara court. Journalist Şener faces a 3 years' sentence for his book about the Dink murder.

Kurdish politician Tuğluk was acquitted by an Istanbul court of charges related to a news item published in 2004. Another case filed against her on the grounds of an article published in 2002 was closed by prescription.

Specialist Sergeant Mutlu died in an explosion during an operation in the south-eastern province of Hakkari, one military officer got injured. The General Staff announced that it was a detonative made by the PKK. One civilian died of Turkish artillery fire in northern Iraq.

This year's "Human Rights Foundation Ayşe Nur Zarakolu Freedom of Thought Award" went to Kurdish politicians Ahmet Türk and Aysel Tuğluk, journalist Mehdi Tanrıkulu, publisher Bedri Adanır and writer Veysi Sarısözen.

Two detained defendants of the murder case of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink were released in the latest hearing. Osman Hayal was identified by a secret witness, though the court did not take the suspect into detention. Former head of the Police Intelligence Department will not be heard.