human rights

The murderers of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink took aim at his vision of a Turkey that allowed free speech says Sir Geoffrey Bindman, British legal expert on human rights issues.

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.

Turkey’s Islamic rooted AKP government moves a decree to rehabilitate communist poet Nazim Hikmet who was stripped of citizenship after having fled the country in 1950.

A Human Rights meeting to which institutions from other countries were invited too has been cancelled. The reason may be State Minister Çiçek’s objection to Denmark’s participation in the meeting because of their allowing of the pro-Kurdish Roj TV in their country.

Ahmet Ersin, a member of the Human Rights Commission of the Parliament (TBMM), says the investigations about the Hrant Dink murder, the Priest Santoro murder, the massacre of the three Protestants in Malatya are restricted to catching those who pulled the trigger, but not exposing those who are behind them.

In the investigation launched upon the complaint of convict Selahattin İşmen in the Ferikli Prison of Sakarya province, five prison officers have been arrested.

The prosecution of former minister and head of the police department Mehmet Ağar for his connection in the Susurluk conspiracy will start tomorrow. He is accused of forming an armed organization and helping known convicts to get guns and passports.

Halil Ç., slained youth’s friend, who was with him at the time of the shooting, says the same police officer threatened to shoot him, too. Alevite Culture Associations describe the incident as a murder.

Lawyer Aslan said that one of her clients, twenty-nine year old Ceber, died because of torture and another one of his clients is in the danger of dying.

New head of the Land Forces Gen. Işık Koşaner chooses security over freedoms. The Human Right Defenders ask “which laws prevent the fight against terror?" They are afraid the existing freedoms may be restricted even more.

The head of Human Rights Foundation of Turkey evaluates the recent Ergenekon investigation and concludes that there is no reason to be overly optimistic and claim that this operation will result in Turkey’s democratization.

The Human Rights Investigation Committee may look into conscientious objector Bal’s ordeal, either when petitioned by the victim or informed about the subject.

The Constitutional Court revokes the headscarf amendment by the ruling party with a vote of nine to two. While the opposition is pleased with the decision, the ruling party says that they need to see the justification of the decision.

A conversation about smoking turns into an article 301 investigation. A slogan using Bush is construed as denigrating the heads of the state.

Seven human rights organizations start a campaign for the removal of article 318, “the alienation of people from military service”. Close to a thousand people sign the declaration.

KEİG claims that the new employment law does not address the real issues that will change situation radically in women’s employment and redressing the unfair conditions for the women.

The European Parliament passes a report on Turkey. Although pleased with the imperfect 301 revision, it insists that major changes such as starting a development plan for southeastern Turkey should be implemented immediately.

The Human Rights Presidency, a government body, declares that its committees will inspect the police and gendarmerie detention centers unannounced and they want at least one member of them to come from the non-governmental organizations.

The AKP members of the Human Rights Committee reject the proposal to form a subcommittee for the investigation of the May Day incidents to determine the human right violations.