First time in history, two most important bodies of the Turkish high judiciary host numerous women members. Eight out of 23 members to the Supreme Court of Appeals and five out of nine members to the State Council are women.

Turkeys Confederation of Progressive Workers Trade Unions invited all European counterparts to join them in this years May Day celebrations in Istanbul to express international solidarity in defending union rights and freedoms in the country.

On two different accounts, two local journalists are complaining that ruling AKPs local administrators are pressuring and threatning them following their critical approach to the government.

TİHV İzmir branch released a report covering March: Excessive use of force by security forces before and after the Newroz celebrations in the city. More than 80 people have been taken under custody and 12 complained from torture and maltreatment.

Turkish army chief Gen. Büyükanıt holds a press conference saying the armed forces are targeted with efforts to undermine its reputation and demanding political and legislative cover to better fight terrorism. Rights activist Önen evaluates...

Asst. Prof. Kentel says the recent perception of rising nationalism in Tukey is in fact the projection of a fear, resulting from the dissolution of the nation state and all promises related to it by the process of globalization.

A parliamentary commission approved a draft proposal which would regulate the crimes in cyberspace. The proposal foresees bans on websites which promote the division of the state or insult Ataturk, founder of the modern Turkish Republic.

Bakirköy Public Prosecutors Office launches an investigation into retired Gen. Örneks diaries which state a coup was planned by army high command in 2004 but not into the allegations, rather to weekly Nokta magazine which disclosed the diaries.

Turkeys Journalists Associatrion commemorates 62 journalists who were killed for their thoughts and work since 1909. Most of those took place in the last 30 years. We call on the government to secure journalists right to life, TGC chair Erinç said.

An Istanbul court condemns Cumhuriyet daily for quoting a main opposition party members criticism about PM Erdogan while another court acquitted Radikal daily on the same allegations. Erdogan urged damages for being insulted by those remarks.

A media watch platform will be established in Turkey with the participation of experts, academics, journalists and NGOs. An initiative brought together participants last weekend. The platform will work on creating public awareness on media literacy.

Based at the Kurdistan Autonomous Region in Northern Iraq, Kurdistan TVs Diyarbakır bureau chief Eren says they face discrimination and pressure from local officials. Were continuously surveilled by the police and receive anonymous threats.

The trial where 56 mayors, most of them members of the pro-Kurdish DTP, are prosecuted for sending a joint letter to the Danish PM Rasmussen urging the refusal of Turkeys efforts for the closure of Roj TV continued. They face imprisonment up to 15 years.

Initiative for a Mine-free Turkey says at least 39 people died last year because of land mines and abandoned ammunition. Government should implement the Ottawa Treaty and clear all 1 million land mines on ground by 2014, the rights organization said.

The financial deadlock between the Bar Associations and the Ministry of Justice which led to the suspension of assigment of defence counselors to culprits would especially harm children involved in crime, criticize rights activists.

Turkeys Human Rights Association Diyarbakır branch chair Demiştaş says not one trial has been launched into the tragic events of March 2006 where 14 people were killed by security forces during demonstrations following pro-Kurdish guerillas funerals.

Local Demokrat İskenderun newspaper owner Ersen Korkmaz has been on trial since 4.5 years for an article where he covered a panel on Kurdish guerilla leader Ocalan. If convicted, he faces three years in prison.

Armenian church of Surp Khach placed on Aghtamar island in lake Van, eastern Turkey has been restorated and opened as a museum with the participation of Turkish and Armenian officials. The church dates back to 10th century.

BİA² and UNICEF Turkey hold two-day Children Rights News Reporting training meeting in Kocaeli on invitation of Bekirpaşa municipality. Participants included local journalists, NGO representatives and state officers as well as children.

Savings Deposit Insurance Fund confiscates the administration of Merkez Media Group on grounds that a secret partnership had been revealed with its former owner Dinç Bilgin who had been convicted on felonies regarding his activities in Etibank.