The Supreme Court of Appeals overturns the verdict against two army officers for bombings in the Şemdinli courtcase. Questioning was incomplete high court decided. Tanrikulu of Diyarbakir Bar Association relates the decision with army pressure.

In spite of widespread belief that the percentage of women candidates will increase in the forthcoming general elections, no party has yet got a woman candidate in the top three of their election tickets.

Singer Ferhat Tunc, known for his critical remarks about the Kurdish issue in Turkey, faces yet another trial with regard to his speech during a concert last year. Guerillas are sons of this country just as the soldiers who loose their lives, he said.

2006 Nobel laureate novelist Orhan Pamuk has been awarded a honorary doctorate from Turkeys acclaimed Boğaziçi University, in the wake of a symposium dedicated to his literary work. Pamuk emphasized the importance of freedoms in a society.

Lila Pieters, deputy representative of the United Nations Childrens Fund in Turkey says, more than a quarter of Turkeys children live in poverty, meaning that their caregivers do not have adequate means to feed, clothe, shelter, educate or protect them.

Hundreds of thousands march in Aegean city of İzmir this weekend, for a fifth republican meeting which was initiated by Kemalist NGOs as a protest to the government. The crowd urged the social democrat CHP and DSP to join forces for elections.

Were increasing our efforts to organize media workers all around the country said Turkeys Union of Journalists chair Ercan İpekçi. The union is on the verge of gaining a majority at ATV and Sabah daily, following its confiscation by the TMSF.

Dozens of activists met in Kadıkoy this weekend to mark the 20th anniversary of the first womens march against domestic violence. They noted that violence and discrimination against women are still widespread and their struggle would continue.

Prominent writers, journalists, artists and lawyers sign a petition criticizing General Staffs threatening declaration on April 27. They urged a electoral law reform for a pluralist, democratic, secular and liberterian parliament and fair representation.

Editor of the local Emirdağ newspaper, Koyuncu has been arrested following an article in which he criticized the local police. Several officers complained against him and Koyuncu will face trial on May 24. He quoted claims of abuse by the police.

Three journalists have been fired at Merkez Media Group, which had been confiscated by the public fund in April. Turkeys Journalists Union reacted to the action as a threat aimed at violating workers right to organize.

Publisher Sırrı Öztürk and writer Tiftikçi are on trial for a critical study on the Turkish army. Public Prosecutor Turhan faces charges for saying, I do not trust the judiciary. Alınak of the DTP party has been sentenced to ten months imprisonment.