Article 301

"The Bastard of Istanbul," the book which landed Turkish writer Elif Shafak in court under the controversial Article 301, has now won her a nomination for the long list of the prestigious Orange Prize.

Chief of General Staff Büyükanit expressed in an interview that he was open to criticism. So how come so many people are taken to court for “denigrating the armed forces”?

In protest at Hrant Dink's murder, writer Demirer had called on others to commit the same "crime" as Dink had done, i.e. to recognise the factuality of an "Armenian genocide." He is now facing a trial under Articles 301 and 216.

A new campaign has called on the government to stop delaying the implementation of EU reforms and to get rid of "democratic scandals" such as Article 301.

The General Staff has sued lawyer and human rights activist Keskin for “denigrating the army”; Keskin said, “I will continue to criticise militarist pressure.”

Following a mission in Turkey on the occasion of the third hearing of the Hrant Dink murder trial, the FIDH published a report on 13 February, calling for action on human rights.

In its annual report for 2008, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) criticised Article 301 and the nationalist obstruction of press freedom. The murder of Hrant Dink could have been prevented.

Around 400 academics have signed a statement which calls for democratisation not only around clothing rules at university.

Before the anniversary of Hrant Dink’s Murder, IPI criticises the Turkish government's failure to reform Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.

Erdogan spoke at the Forum of the Alliance of Civilisations in Madrid, discussing the headscarf and Article 301 in a press meeting.

After waiting three years to make changes to Article 301, the government is finally taking the article in hand one week before the first anniversary of Dink’s murder.

The court hearing the case of human rights activist Eren Keskin has decided to wait for the announced changes in Article 301.

Minister of Justice Sahin has said that changes in the controversial Article 301 will be presented to the cabinet within 15 days.

Journalists Irfan Ucar and Umur Hozatli are still charged under Article 301 for criticising losses and rights violations. Ferhat Tunc is in court today.

After reporting on the claim that village guards were using state bombs to hunt fish, a villager, a reporter and a human rights activist are on trial for "denigrading the state".

Politicians and journalists who have claimed that the army has used chemical weapons in its fight against the PKK have found themselves in court under Article 301.

Ahmet Türk of the DTP has protested against calls to lift MPs' immunity. Meanwhile, Minister of Justice Sahin has announced changes in, but not the abolition of, Article 301: "Many EU countries have similar articles."

Rights organisation Freedom House has called for changes in Article 301, as well as a less restrictive application of the new Turkish Penal Code.

In a press release of 7 November, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) have called on the Turkish Minister of Justice to act on promises to change Article 301.

Agos editor-in-chief Arat Dink and licence holder Serkis Seropyan have been given a deferred one-year prison sentence each under Article 301.