Amnesty International expert Kilic criticizes Turkey and Greece for practice of secretly deporting illegal immigrants into each others territorial waters after UNHCR spokesmen implies this is common practice: This is against the Refugee Law.

According to applications made to the Istanbul Bar Association Womens Rights Enforcement Center, 95 out of every 100 women applying for legal assistance in 2005 have been subjected to violence. Over half of applicants are housewives.

Journalists charged with propaganda for their interviews conducted with PKK leaders will be tried at recently formed Specialized High Criminal Courts reminiscent of the abolished State Security Courts of repressive past.

More than 110 people including journalists have been rounded up in a major operation aiming to crush a leftwing organization.Unions, associations, newspaper bureaus and a radio station have been searched by police. 82 still under custody, 30 detained.

An operation launched against the outlawed leftist MLKP organization two weeks ago continued this week with police teams enforcing search warrants on Ozgur Radyo, EKD, Atilim newspaper, BEKSAV, Limter-Is, Tekstil-Sen and many others.

Human Rights Foundation discloses that 96 people have appeared before courts in 2006 on charges related only to what they wrote. Onen says: The very soul of the Penal, Anti-Terror, Protection of Ataturk, Press and RTUK codes must be changed.

Olof Palme Foundations aid to the children in the form of story books and computers has been blocked at customs. Losing hope of laying hands on the grant, GOC DER has forfeited its rights on books and computers.

An investigation was launched against lawyer Erkem for her statements as Bar Association official related to child torture in local prison. She given only 10 days to prepare her defense or forgo defense rights, but is denied access to court files.

Two translators as well as the Turkish language publisher of Tirmans Spoils of War: The Human Cost of Americas Arms Trade are being prosecuted for publicly degrading the armed forces and insulting Ataturk. Defendants face 6.5 years imprisonment each.

Turkeys internationally acclaimed writer Elif Shafak got acquitted on the first hearing today from charges of insulting Turkishness in her last novel. Numerous intellectuals and activists supported Shafak and once again deemed the article 301.

Court acquits Mayor Demirbas on charges of propaganda in European Social Forum statement titled Municipalities and Local Administrations in the Light of the Multilingualism. Case was launched on grounds that the PKK also demands Kurdish language rights.

Human rights groups are warning to authorities on the outlawed activities of intervening Jurists Union demanding measures and an investigation. Concerns mount over security at court due to rightwing groups public appeal to display national unity.

Four newsmen and five human rights activists involved in securing and covering the release of a Turkish soldier kidnapped by the PKK are to be tried at High Criminal Court unless their appeal is accepted. Prosecutor currently demands 5 years jail for each

The bookstore owner Yilmaz who is charged with membership to an organization is still being held in prison despite prosecutor and a judge asking for his release. He was arrested in June after his shop was bombed last year leading to an investigation

Diyarbakir prosecutors have demanded 9 years imprisonment for IHD Provincial Chairman Selahattin Demirtas due to remarks he made on Gun TV and Roj TV. Demirtas is accused of propaganda for terror organization.

Following Sept. 12 arrest for a collage poster depicting Erdogan as Bushs dog, British artist Dickinson was transferred to a police station where he has been held under custody. He says he doesnt know why he is there as rights groups raise concern.

While 14 million students head for primary and secondary schools in a new term with only 595 thousand teachers shared between all, defects are compounded by politics, internal exile, penalties, discrimination and staff poverty.

Metis issues public appeal asking everyone to attend the author Shafaks hearing while rightwing Jurists Union group declares it will be a day of national duty inviting all supporters to be at courthouse. She wont attend court having just given birth.

Three-day mourning by the local businesses ends as shutters are reopen after a silent parade of 5 thousand. Police Special Operation Teams display discontent with a counter-parade by a convoy of 20 armored carriers.

Political parties, rights activists, artists and NGOs sahraply react against the Diyarbakir bombing. Regardless of where it comes from, for whatever aim, violence cannot be approved. The Kurdish problem cannot be solved through violence they say.