Judge and Defendant Share Press Freedom Award

Turkey’s Journalist Association (TGC) divides 2006 Press Freedom Award between cartoonist Musa Kart who was sued by PM Erdogan for depicting himself as an entangled cat and a chief judge of a central Turkish city Eskisehir who acquitted the cartoonist of the charges.

Cartoonist Musa Kart and Eskisehir 3rd Court of First Instance chief justice Mithat Ali Kabaali will receive their joint awards in a ceremony to be held on July 24 at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, marking the Press Freedom Day.

The awards, for personal contribution to the freedom of the press, are part of TGC’s annual events hosted since 1989 to reward individuals and institutions who have contributed to those freedoms.

The TGC 2006 institution award is to go to the Turkish Penal Law Association in the same ceremony for the group’s outstanding activities on legal issues related to press freedoms.

It is in recognition of the Association’s scientific approach to limitations and restrictions imposed by the Turkish Penal Code, the Press and Anti-Terror Laws at all levels from draft to debate and approval as well as its activities including discussion panels and forums, issuing publications and working together with bar associations and journalists in this field to attract attention to the public’s right to information and media freedom. (II/YE)