RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 244

“Solve Kurdish Question with Redefinition of Citizenship”

Kurdish politician Ekinci argues that Turkey has not taken any concrete steps to solve the Kurdish issue since PKK leader Öcalan’s capture ten years ago. He calls for constitutional change.

17 February 2009 Bawer Çakır

Two Newspapers Convicted for Different “Crimes”

Milliyet newspaper’s responsible editor Çakkalkurt has been sentenced to imprisonment for violating a military media ban on the PKK attack in Dağlıca. Posta reporter Cumalı has been convicted of violating the privacy of a person.

16 February 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Clashes on Anniversary of Öcalan’s Arrest

The tenth anniversary of the arrest of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was marked by demonstrations in several cities in the southeast of Turkey. There were clashes between protesters and police.

16 February 2009

Three More Bodies Identified in Diyarbakır

A family in Diyarbakır has finally learnt that three of its members are among the dead bodies found in 2003. They are still missing two other people.

12 February 2009 Tolga Korkut

Actors Protest Against Journalist’s Antisemitism

More than 300 signatures have been collected in protest at the comments of Bugün newspaper journalist Aykut Işıklar, for comments he wrote about theatre actor Nedim Saban.

12 February 2009 Erhan Üstündağ

“Kurdistan” Report for Obama: How to Disarm the PKK

Academic Barkey from Lehigh University has prepared a report on conflict prevention in Kurdistan for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

12 February 2009 Erhan Üstündağ

Police Officer Indicted for Deliberately Killing a Man

Police officer Ali Mutlu stands accused of “deliberately causing death”; the prosecution is demanding 8-12 years for the death of Feyzullah Ete.

11 February 2009 Tolga Korkut,Emine Özcan

"Migrant Friendly Local and General Policies Needed"

British Council Turkey reveals a recent research on migrants living in Istanbul. The report calls for increased international cooperation. "Migrants should not be deemed as security threats; rather their needs shall be addressed."

11 February 2009

ECHR Will Tackle Ban On Propaganda in Kurdish

Kurdish politician Miroglu was condemned for addressing his electorate in Kurdish, during his campaign for July 2007 general elections. The Strasbourg court declares his case as admissible. The ruling might force an amendment to law.

11 February 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Dissident Local Journalist on Trial Rejects Judge

11 February 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

New Arrest in Malatya Murder Case

In the last week, two more people have been arrested in the Malatya murder case, first Varol Bülent Aral, accused of inciting prime suspect Emre Günaydin, and now former publishing employee Hüseying Yekli.

11 February 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

"Prosecutors Obliged to Investigate 11 Dead in Güçlükonak"

11 rangers were killed and their bodies burnt in 1996 and the General Staff blamed it on the PKK. Then Minister of State, Ekmen says "he knew the deep state was repsonsible but couldn't prove it". Activists urge an investigation at least after 13 years.

10 February 2009 Tolga Korkut

No Trial for “We are All Armenian” Slogan

The prosecution has refused to open a trial over the slogans and placards carried at Hrant Dink’s funeral. A complaint had been filed against Istanbul’s Şişli municipality mayor Sarıgül.

10 February 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Former Interior Minister Finally in Court for "Stay Behind" Operations

Former Interior Minister Finally in Court for "Stay Behind" Operations

It took over twelve years to get Mehmet Ağar, former chief of police and then politician, into court for his role in the Susurluk scandal that rocked Turkey in 1996. The trial continues on 13 May.

10 February 2009 Tolga Korkut

Writer Demirer awaiting Court’s 301 Decision

The trial against writer Temel Demirer has been stalled by an appeal for cancellation to an administrative court. Demirer spoke of a “murderous state” when referring to the assassination of journalist Hrant Dink.

9 February 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

IHD: 38 Died in Prison in 2008

Human Rights Association releases its annual report on rights violations in prisons. IHD received 3 519 applications regarding rights violations such as arbitrary ban on books and communication in Kurdish as well as disciplinary practices.

6 February 2009

Conscientious Objector Özkan Faces Court

Doğan Özkan read a press briefing of the Human Rights Association in front of Selimiye Barracks in Üsküdar in 2004. Now he is facing court for discouraging people from doing military service.

5 February 2009 Bawer Çakır

Prison Sentence for Pro-Kurdish MP

Prison Sentence for Pro-Kurdish MP

DTP MP Aysel Tuğluk is facing a prison sentence for saying that denouncing the PKK as terrorists would not solve the Kurdish question. The court has sent her file to parliament in order to lift her immunity.

5 February 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Two Journalists On Trial for Revealing "Big Brother"

Tried with imprisonment on allegations related to news articles revealing an unlawful general authorization of electronic surveillance to security forces, Tahincioglu and Goktas's case continued today.

5 February 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

"Intelligence Lies Leave Dink's Murder in Dark"

One may disagree with Hrant Dink's writings and sayings but he could have defended himself if he were alive. Now he's left dead, I had to act against those violating his rights. Journalist Sener talks to bianet about his latest book.

4 February 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Intellectuals Rally in Support of Sociologist Beşikçi

A group of intellectuals and academics has condemned a PKK-related group, HPG, for openly threatening sociologist İsmail Beşikçi on their website.

4 February 2009

Armenian Diaspora Reactions to Apology Campaign

Armenian Diaspora Reactions to Apology Campaign

An Armenian academic in Australia has initiated an apology campaign in reply. However, the European Armenian Federation has condemned any campaign without genocide recognition as “populist”.

4 February 2009 Erhan Üstündağ

Conscientious Objection Is on EU Accession Agenda

Conscientious Objection Is on EU Accession Agenda

Answering the questions of Dutch MEP Erik Meijer, the European Commission said that EU accession negotiations would also include a discussion of the right to conscientious objection or social instead of military service.

3 February 2009 Erhan Üstündağ

New School Books for Peace and Equality

A project scanning school books for human rights violations has revealed that only eight percent are unproblematic.

2 February 2009

Spanish Judge Pursues Israel for "Crimes Against Humanity"

While all over the world begun a debate about the possibility to put Israel'i responsibles under trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity for Gaza military operation that caused 1300 deaths, Spanish National Assembly started an investigation about a fact happened in 2002.

30 January 2009 Alberto Tetta

Sulukule Children’s Centre Demolished

The Fatih municipality in Istanbul has destroyed the children’s centre in the Roma neighbourhood of Sulukule.

30 January 2009

EU Membership Does Not End Corruption

Around 50 NGO representatives and journalists from Croatia, Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and Kosovo met in Brussels for a workshop on corruption. Önderoğlu from bianet participated.

30 January 2009

Dink Trial Court Took Eight Hearings to Stop Racist Lawyer

Dink family lawyer Tuna evaluated the investigation of defence lawyer Turgut as positive but a step taken far too late. She is not optimistic about the trial.

28 January 2009 Bawer Çakır

Kurdish MPs Want Disappearances Solved

On the eighth anniversary of the disappearance of two Kurdish politicians in Silopi, southeastern Turkey, thousands of people gathered in protest.

27 January 2009

Investigation Ruled Out for Signatories to The Apology to Armenians

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has rejected a call to open a case against the apology campaign under Article 301.

27 January 2009

Turkish Journalism Awards Announced

The Contemporary Journalists’ Association (ÇGD) has announced its journalism awards for 2008.

27 January 2009

Three Dink Murder Defendants Released from Jail

Three Dink Murder Defendants Released from Jail

In the eighth hearing of the Hrant Dink murder on 26 January, defendants Tuncel and Hayal fought. Links with the Ergenekon organisation will be investigated, the judges dediced.

27 January 2009