RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 258

Fine for Student Threatening Publisher

Just after Hrant Dink’s murder, high school student Sahin threatened publisher Abay, who had made a statement relating to the murder, with death. He has been given a fine.

3 April 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Organisations Condemn Internet Censorship

Turkish PEN, the Turkish Writers’ Trade Union, the Association of People of Letters and the Turkish Publishers’ Union have condemned the blocked access to Youtube and other websites in Turkey.

3 April 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Dink Case May Help in Ergenekon Operation

Dink family lawyer Fethiye Cetin believes that the Dink murder trial may help to find those involved in the Ergenekon organisation who are still in official positions.

2 April 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

12 Dead in Battle in Southeast

In a battle in Sirnak 3 soldiers and 9 PKK militants died, while 5 soldiers were wounded. Military operations continue in seven provinces in Turkey.

2 April 2008 Emine Özcan

Dink Lawyers Call for Colonel’s Trial in Istanbul

After it has emerged that Trabzon Gendarmerie Commander Colonel Öz ignored intelligence of murder plans, lawyers have called for his prosecution in Istanbul.

31 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Conscientious Objector Savda in Police Custody

After reading a press statement for the Solidarity Initiative for Ismail Saygi, conscientious objector Savda was himself taken into custody. The IHD has called on parliament to recognise the right to conscientious objection.

28 March 2008 Emine Özcan

Supreme Court Denies Journalist Mater was Insulted

Supreme Court Denies Journalist Mater was Insulted

The Supreme Court of Appeals has rejected a compensation claim by journalist Mater for being made a public target and being insulted by journalist Cölasan. Mater will appeal to the ECHR.

28 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Vedat Kursun in Prison until 15 April

Vedat Kursun, the responsible editor of the Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper has been in police custody since 5 February, accused of “continuously spreading PKK propaganda.”

27 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Access to Another Website Banned

After Wordpress and Youtube.com, the Indymedia-Istanbul website has now been closed with a court decision. Turkey continues to close down whole sites because of individual contributions.

27 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

A Diyarbakir “Outing”: “What are Gays Doing at Newroz?”

A group of gay and lesbian Kurds in Diyarbakir decided that this year’s Newroz would not only be a call for political freedom, but also an honest declaration of their sexual identity.

25 March 2008 Murat Özpamuk

DTP Condemns Excessive Police Violence at Newroz

DTP MP Akin Birdal holds the Siirt governor and chief of police responsible for riots at Newroz celebrations, as well as the Minister of the Interior and the Prime Minister.

25 March 2008 Murat Çelikkan

Two Deaths at Newroz Celebrations

In some cities in the southeast of Turkey, the governors did not allow Newroz celebrations to take place. Two people died in Van and Hakkari. Hundreds of people were taken into police custody.

24 March 2008 Emine Özcan

Trabzon Gendarmerie Knew of Dink Murder Plans!

The two gendarmerie officers on trial in Trabzon have stated that they had informed their superiors of the planned Dink murder. The superiors are said to have faked documents to hide their previous knowledge.

24 March 2008 Erol Ö

Newroz: “Our Message is Peace!”

As preparations for a big Newroz celebration in Diyarbakir are nearing their end, some say “we have to go for peace.” However, others fear trouble and will stay away.

20 March 2008 Emine Özcan

Three Years Imprisonment for Threatening Agos Newspaper

After threatening Agos and Armenians pere mail, Zafer Filiz has been sentenced to three years imprisonment. Lawyer Cetin has welcomed the sentence.

20 March 2008 Erol Ön

Let Newroz and Nevruz bring Peace and Spring!

Let Newroz and Nevruz bring Peace and Spring!

The Turkish Peace Parliament has called on the spring festival to be “an opportunity to face the past" and ÖDP MP Uras has called for "a beginning of a solution."

20 March 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Newspaper Investigated for Anti-Militarist Support

After one of their writers was taken into custody for an article he wrote, two representatives of the Taraf newspaper have been investigated for supporting the anti-militarist statement of singer Bülent Ersoy.

20 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

ECHR Sentences Turkey in IHD Case

Turkey has been sentenced to paying 1,000 YTL compensation in an appeal brought by two human rights activists from the Izmir branch of IHD.

An Interview with Elif Shafak

Boyd Tonkin called her “A writer who weds the modern and the mystic,” when he interviewed her for the Independent newspaper in July 2007. On the occasion of her nomination for the Orange Prize, bianet publishes the interview.

20 March 2008 Boyd Tonkin

Elif Shafak makes long list for Orange Prize

Elif Shafak makes long list for Orange Prize

"The Bastard of Istanbul," the book which landed Turkish writer Elif Shafak in court under the controversial Article 301, has now won her a nomination for the long list of the prestigious Orange Prize.

20 March 2008 Ciar Byrne

Conscientious Objector Arrested

Conscientious objector Ismail Saygi, who was taken into custody on 16 March, has been arrested. His supporters have planned a campaign for today.

19 March 2008 Emine Özcan

20th Anniversary of Halabja Massacre under Saddam

20th Anniversary of Halabja Massacre under Saddam

There have been memorial events of the Halabja Massacre in 1988, in which Saddam Hussein ordered the massacre of thousands of Kurds in Northern Iraq.

19 March 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Malatya Murders Trial Postponed to 14 April

The fourth hearing in the Malatya Murders case ended with a postponement as the joint attorneys had demanded a recusation of judges.

18 March 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Doctors Visit Tunceli and Prejudices Disappear

Doctors from a private hospital in Bursa traveled to the province of Tunceli for the Day of Medicine on 14 March. They examined patients in the districts and also gained a new perspective on Tunceli.

18 March 2008 Umut Karakoyun

Trial in Bookshop Bombing “Not Fair”

Joint attorneys in the case against the suspected bombers of the Semdinli bookshop have withdrawn from the case in protest. They argue that the military court is not independent and there will not be a fair trial.

17 March 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Prof. Yayla Punished for Saying Kemalism is “Regressive”

An Izmir court has sentenced Prof. Dr. Yayla to a suspended 15-month prison sentence for saying that Kemalism was “more regressive than progressive.”

13 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

US Report Condemns Increase in Torture and Self-Censorship in Journalism

The US Department of State released its 2007 report on Turkey on 11 March. The report criticises the fact that there has been an increase in torture, that the judiciary is not impartial, and that violence towards women continues.

13 March 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

“Closing Parties Does Not Solve Kurdish Issue”

“Closing Parties Does Not Solve Kurdish Issue”

In the DTP closure case, the Prosecution of the Supreme Court of Appeals has demanded that 221 people be banned from politics. Prof. Köker says there can be no solution when “political participation is prevented.”

13 March 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Chief of Army: “I am Open to Criticism”

Chief of Army: “I am Open to Criticism”

Chief of General Staff Büyükanit expressed in an interview that he was open to criticism. So how come so many people are taken to court for “denigrating the armed forces”?

13 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Photo Gallery: International Women’s Day in Kadiköy

12 March 2008 Emine Özcan

Media Ban on Ergenekon Gang “Violates ECHR Law”

Prosecutor Ayata has dismissed the publishing and printing ban on the Ergenekon operation as “unjustified” and has not opened a case against the Cumhuriyet newspaper.

12 March 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Amnesty International: 2007 a “Lost Year” for Turkey

Amnesty International: 2007 a “Lost Year” for Turkey

According to Amnesty International, there has been a regression in human rights in 2007. Torture and maltreatment continue, and trials are still compromised.