The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found Turkey guilty of violating the freedom of expression in three cases and has sentenced the country to paying fines in two of the cases.

A gathering to commemorate Hrant Dink on the second anniversary of his assassination will take place in front of the Agos newspaper on 19 January at 2:30pm. Other events are planned.

While the Ministry of Justice is preparing to allow “languages besides Turkish” to be spoken in prison, the language is still considered potentially criminal. A politician faces a fine for allegedly using Kurdish to spread propaganda.

In its annual report, Human Rights Watch has conceded that there are doubts about the independence of the Turkish judiciary; nevertheless, the Ergenekon trial is considered an opportunity to fight against unwanted military and state interference in political life.

British law expert Sir Geoffrey Bindman will speak at the second Hrant Dink Human Rights and Freedom of Expression Conference hosted by Bosphorus University on 16 January.

The UN Human Rights Council has asked Israel to stop attacks on the Gaza strip and has decided to send a delegation to investigate alleged war crimes. More than 900 Palestinians have died.

Dink family lawyer Ergin Cinmen has called for an investigation into the links between the Ergenekon organisation and the murders of Hrant Dink, Andrea Santoro and three Christians in Malatya.

The Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) has published its annual report, in which it states that unsolved murders as well as deaths in detention or prison are the highest in eight years.

Up to now, five weapons caches have been found in the Ergenekon investigation, but their sources have not been declared. The General Staff remains silent.

Human rights organisations have called on Obama to present a detailed plan for the closure of Guantanamo base and to form an independent commission to investigate human rights violations at the camp.

The Political Science Department of Ankara University has made its “Human Rights Centre Journal” (1991-1996), published in Turkish, and its “Revue des Droits de l’Homme/Human Rights Review”, published in French and English, available on the Internet.

Kazım Genç, president of the Alevi Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association, is preparing a press statement after his name was found on a “death list” by special operations police head İbrahim Şahin.