Inhabitants of Turkeys most prosperous province Kocaeli, benefit from lesser health facilities than Turks living in the German city Dusseldorf, shows a research by Dr. Kaya of Kocaeli University.

Prof. Polat said Turkey still didnt pass harmonization laws about the Childrens Rights Convention, 15 years after adopting it. According to Polat, institutions responsible for serving children have many shortcomings.

It was the most recent of frequent explosions in Hakkari, an area heavily polluted by anti-personnel landmines and other unexploded ordinances during the conflict between PKK guerrillas and Turkish security forces. The bombs are deemed a serious problem.

RTUK gives a 30-day closure to Hakkari FM because of Democratic People Partys chair Suvagcis words. In the program he condemned the closing of the party, those missing while under arrest and he wants a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue.

Women lawyers said MTA discriminated against women by employing 75 men and only five women. They called on women to spend effort to defend their rights and promised to support the Chamber of Geology Engineers in any legal procedure.

A court acquitted police officers Ismail Icen and Mustafa Yucel, who were being charged for torturing Daslik. Her lawyer appealed the case at the Supreme Court of Appeals. Icen, who stood another trial for torture, was acquitted in recent months.

Cases against nine police officers from the Istanbul Anti-Terror Branch who were charged with torturing Yeter and 14 others in another incident in 1997 were dropped on 11 November, because they had reached the time limit for such proceedings.

An Istanbul court rejected a request by the Istanbul Bar, womens organizations, and women, to take part in the trial about Guldunya Torens murder by family members. The women, who left the courtroom, are preparing to object to the decision.

TMMOB Chamber of City Planners handed out City Planning Media Awards. Bianet received an award for contributing to the city culture and urban consciousness, for bringing urban problems onto agenda and for providing scientific arguments.

Actress Genç of Theatre Amargi had a case brought against her for swearing at official on duty based on her lines in the play Spilled Unwritten She has stated that this kind of censorship applications are hindering the artistic creation process.

In EU countries, the military is a government institution, said EU Expansion expert Aktar. It doesnt state opinions about political issues. The important thing is to give the opportunity to minorities to live a decent life, he added.

Turkish truck drivers are complaining that the government is indifferent to increasing numbers of drivers dying at the hands of Islamic resistance fighters in Iraq No one forces us to go to Iraq but we cannot find work here so we go, said one driver.

Journalist Sirin, who was sentenced to 17.5 years for being a member of an illegal organization, and who has been in prison for 8.5 years, was released due to amendments to the Turkish Penal Code.

Members of Turkeys minority groups denounce violent reactions against the Prime Ministrys working group on Rights of Minorities. Lawyer Bakar calls for full implementation of Laussane Treaty, while Alevite researcher Sener welcomes the debate.

Izmirs Aliaga district mayoralty introduces support and guidance service for the protection of village women from domestic violence. Volunteered by 13 women ABKAM conducts surveys with support from village headmen.

3rd Administrative Court in Adana lifted the ban on the local Radyo Dünya for airing Kurdish music during a Turkish language program. Broadcaster Öziç also acquitted of the charges of acting against the orders of authorities.

The Draft Law on Execution of Penalties, introducing forced labor, uniforms, defining silent protests as disciplinary crimes and imposing solitary confinement aimes at legalizing psychological torture, say human rights activists.

Police Headquarters, in great self-sacrifice, cooperate with RTUK and do monitoring and recording in places RTUK does not have facilities, said RTUK head Fatih Karaca during the opening ceremony of the Monitoring Units Training Seminar.

Attorneys of Kutlular the owner of daily Yeni Asya and Şirin, the writer of daily Selam who were sentenced to 2 years and 1 year 8 months respectively are going to appeal to supreme court for the correction of their sentences.

The BİA² third quarterly Media Monitoring Report for the period July-September 2004 deals with 26 court cases and 69 journalists. Two journalists are threatened by ruling AKP officials and a daily is heavily fined for a cartoon critical of Erdogan.