Erol Önderoğlu - Bianet

Erol Önderoğlu

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Censorships New Trend Influencing Judgment

Journalists Sucu, Selcuk, Yildiz, and Tasci from Cumhuriyet are standing trial for reports on the Kiziltepe incident. 5 writers will stand trial in 2006 for criticizing the suspension of the Armenian Conference.

24 December 2005

Pamuks File at the Justice Ministrys Door

The court has sent Pamuks file to the Justice Ministry for its authorization to try the novelist. The judge argues that Pamuk should be tried under the former penal code, in effect when he made his controversial statement. The trial could be postponed.

14 December 2005

Six to Stand Trial on 301 This Year

Cagri magazines reader Erkan Akay, as well as writer Orhan Pamuk, journalist Ersen Korkmaz, publisher Zarakolu, writer Kisanak, and singer Ferhat Tunc, will stand trial based on article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code by the end of this year.

14 December 2005

Reporters Promise to Protect Childrens Right

37 reporters and academicians participated in the Seminar on Reporting on Childrens Rights by the BİA² and UNICEF. They agreed that the media plays an important role in the correct representation of the child in society.

8 December 2005

Official Gazzette in The Kurdish Language

The Our Cultures are Our Wealth program broadcasted in the Kirmanchi dialect of Kurdish on TRT3 channel, carried reports on the government, economy and culture. There was no mention of the recent developments in the region.

5 December 2005

Same Content for Different Language Broadcast

Turkeys public TRT television broadcast in languages other than Turkish is criticized for its stereotype content. The Kirmanchi Zaza Circassian Arabic and Bosnian news broadcasts remain identical and little emphasis is laid on cultural differences.

5 December 2005

Intelectuals Support for Writer Pabuc

Retired lieutenant Murat Pabuc, who is standing trial for openly insulting the military forces, by writing a book titled, Deserting the Colored Bench Guard Duty, wrote about the problems he witnessed suc as corruptionin the military.

28 November 2005

Womens Representation in Media Discussed

Seventy-one reporters and NGO representatives from seven provinces attended the BIA² Seminar. The participants criticized womens misrepresentation and inadequate representation in the media and called for effective reporting.

21 November 2005

Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Journalist

Following two local judgements, the Supreme Court of Appeals upheld a suspended 20-month prison sentence handed to writer Bekdil who wrote The probability for an ordinary Turk to receive a fair trial is one in a million, is going to the ECHR.

19 November 2005

Court Decisions Justify Journalist Concerns

Turkish Penal Code bears its sour fruits as Karaca is sentenced for insulting and belittling the military and Orhan Pamuk faces similar charges. 5 journalists from daily Cumhuriyet are pending trial while Dilipak is still tried before court martial.

9 November 2005

Turkey 98th in Press Freedom Ranking

Reporters Without Borders has released the 2005 World Press Freedom Index report ranking 167 countries according to the level of freedom of the press. Turkey has been ranked 98th, fifteen places higher than last year.

21 October 2005

EHCR fines Turkey for Rights Violations

The European Court of Human Rights has fined Turkey 31,000 in a case brought by several members of the pro-Kurdish DEP, who were found guilty of disseminating separatist propaganda in 1998. The Court unanimously agreed their rights had been violated.

21 October 2005

Newspaper Refuses to Pay Fine

A public suit has been filed against Cumhuriyet newspaper publisher İlhan Selçuk, editor-in-chief Mehmet Sucu, and reporter Alper Turgut, for not paying a USD 50 thousand fine levied against them for publishing a report called Acquittal for Torture.

17 October 2005

Journalist Guilty of Insulting Turkishness

Hrant Dink, the editor of the Istanbul based Armenian language weekly newspaper Agos, has been sentenced to suspended 6 months imprisonment for insulting Turkishness in a series of articles he wrote on Armenian identity.

New Anti-Terror Law Carries Heavier Penalties

The proposed changes to the Anti-Terror Law carry penalties of three-year prison terms for publication of the statements of a terrorist organization and terrorist organization propaganda. The changes could result in ECHR lawsuits.

Everyone Needs a Womens Viewpoint

A total of 40 reporters from Ordu, Artvin, Corum, Giresun, Bulancak, ebinkarahisar, Kastamonu, Eregli, Unye, Samsun, Zonguldak, Trabzon and Kars met at a seminar on Womens Rights and Reporting on Womens Rights by BIA².

26 September 2005

Two Freedom of Expression Cases in Court

Singer Ferhat Tunç for an article that he wrote and publisher Ragip Zarakolu for publishing a book about the Armenian issue both appeared in court on Wednesday on charges of insulting and deriding state institutions.

22 September 2005

Two Reporters Jailed in Southeast Nusaybin

Cengiz Dogan, the editor-in-chief of the Mavi and Kent newspapers in Nusaybin, was arrested and sent to the Mardin E-type prison for publishing PKK statements. The general manager of the newspapers had been arrested two weeks ago.

21 September 2005

Court Rejects Releasing Reporter Duru

DIHA reporter Duru was arrested while he was investigating allegations about cannabis planting. The local court has rejected his demand to be released. His camera and tape recorder have not been returned so that the evidence is not fiddled with.

21 September 2005

Writer Pamuk Awaits Trial In December

Novelist Pamuk will stand trial on December 16, upon Turkish publication of an interview with Swiss journalist on the Armenian deportation in Turkeys Aktuel magazine. The same charges have previously been filed against journalist Dink.

7 September 2005

ECHR Fines Turkey on Freedom of Expression

ECHR handed Turkey a fine of 166,000 dollars in damages last year, in 17 cases about freedom of expression, fair trials and journalist deaths. In the first six months of this year, ECHR has fined Turkey 370,000 dollars in damages.

BIA2 Report: Journalism Shadowed by the Law

BİA2s second quarterly media monitoring report includes rights violations within the new legal setting of the new Penal Code, the Anti-Terrorism Act, RTUKs members election by the Parliament; and discusses union existence in the media sector.

Journalist Bogatekin was Acquitted

Bogatekin, the owner of the Gerger Firat newspaper was acquitted in which he was tried for writing an article.In another trial, he was handed a fine of 1,000 YTL for failing to inform the prosecutors office about the type of his publication within 30 day

No Self-Criticism in Media on Iraq War

Journalist Duran and CGD head Tilic said that an important potion of the dominant media prepared the people for the attack on Iraq through broadcasts. Foreign policy writer Atay said the Turkish media jumped on every news on Iraq.

Army Sues Reporter Rahmi Yildirim

Yildirim is faced with up to three years in prison for criticizing some generals relations with holding companies, in an article published on www.sansursuz.com. In a second investigation opened against the writer after the article was published in Sol.

Writer to Sell His Flat to Pay for Damages

Columnist Dilipaks flat has been sequestrated after he failed to pay a high fine. The Military Supreme Court has overturned a lower military courts decision to send a trial, in which he is charged with damaging juniority-seniority relations, ...

Reporters Attacked in Istanbul

DIHA Reporters Suna and Bozkurt were attacked by a group of extreme nationalists as they were covering a clash between leftist and rightist students at the Istanbul University. The reporters filed a complaint against attackers.

Courts Punish Media, ECHR Punishes Turkey

According to the BIA2s quarterly report on freedom of expression, ECHR handed Turkey a fine of 241,000 Euro, reporter Horuz has been serving in prison for four years, 9 reporters are still standing trial. RTUK suspends Radyo Dunya for 30 days.

Primer Determined to Fight Against Humorists!

In spite of claims of unprecedented tolerance for freedom of expression, Prime Minister Erdogans continues sue cartoonists and humorists. Already 8 writers and journalists have been imprisoned during 28 months of his government in power.

Prime Minister Sues Newspaper

Prime Minister Erdogan sues Gunluk Evrensel newspaper for publishing the slogans of privatized paper factory SEKA workers. He seeks 15,000 new Turkish liras in damages. The next hearing will be held on May 3, the World Press Freedom Day.

Freedom of Expression Cases Continue

Camyar and Ilhan have been released. The Supreme court of appeals introduced a broader outline for freedom of expression. Demirtas was acquitted. But Zarakolu, Tunc and Aygun continue to stand trials on freedom of expression.

Prime Minister Continues to Sue Journalists

Zafer newspapers owner Atar, chief editor Konukoglu and columnist Eyyupoglu, who criticized the Erdogans treatment of Denktash, will pay a fine of 3,000 YTL in damages. The criminal suit against the journalists is awaiting the new penal code.