Journalists Atay and Çelik are tried over charges of "praising crime and a criminal" for news related to members of the KCK and PKK. Journalists Düzel and Demir are prosecuted under the Anti-Terror Law. "Violation of secrecy" is another popular reason to sue journalists.

On the fourth anniversary of the murder of Hrant Dink, thousands of people are expected to gather in several cities all over the country to commemorate the Turkish-Armenian journalist. In Istanbul, people will gather in front of the Agos newspaper where Dink was killed.

Also the 17th hearing of the KCK case was jammed on the court's refusal to permit a defence in Kurdish. Defence lawyers Beştaş and Aktar argued that the court's resistance to the Kurdish language became a meaningless trig. They demand the release of the defendants.

Journalist Yılmaz was apparently attacked by bodyguards of the Mayor of Esenyurt (Istanbul). This is the second attack against Yılmaz in three months. At the same time, 80 attendants of an Alevi press release in Antalya are facing prosecution.

After PM Erdoğan launched court cases against author Ataol Behramoğlu, journalist Oktay Ekşi and members of the Beyoğlu Troupe of Actors, he now also pressed a heavy compensation claim against journalist Ahmet Altan from Taraf newspaper.

According to cables from 2006 published on WikiLeaks, Turkey issued permission to the USA to use the Incirlik Military Base for illegal interrogations of alleged "terror suspects" since 2002. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously denied such accusations.

LGBT rights advocator Cashman criticized that access to correct information on LGBT individuals was restricted. "This conveys the message of a second class life to young LGBT individuals", he argued. "The struggle for equality is a struggle for all of us".

The family of slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink requested a new investigation to apply the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights to domestic law. They submitted a petition to the prosecution and requested to investigate 28 officers from the Police and Gendarmerie in Trabzon and Istanbul.

At the "Conference on the Meaning of Turkish-Kurdish Brotherhood", academic Çoşkun emphasized that granting rights to Kurds would strengthen unity rather than weakening it. MHP Deputy Karakaş called for the development of neglected Kurdish-majority regions.

Two police officials told the court in 2008 that they did not have any information about Dink being threatened before his assassination. The latest book published by journalist Nedim Şener reveals documents that prove those statements wrong.

The 16th hearing of the KCK trial against 151 defendants did not bring any new decisions. The request for a defence in Kurdish was dismissed once more. None of the 104 detained defendants was released. The trial was postponed to 18 January.

Communications lawyer İlkiz criticized the RTÜK draft bill: "The government cannot intervene against radio and television broadcasts. The provision should be lifted. It will cause illegal applications".

Lawyer Rişvanoğlu, tried for his statements made on Roj TV, was represented by 28 lawyers in the hearing on 11 January. The case was adjourned once more to wait for an expert report. The Adana Branch of the Contemporary Lawyers Association harshly criticized the trial.

The Diyarbakır 6th High Criminal Court held the 15th hearing of the KCK trial on 13 January. The court reiterated its decision against the defence of the 151 defendants in Kurdish. The request to release the 104 detained defendants was postponed to today.

The 13 members of the legal organizations SDP and TÖP might be transferred to another prison for "security" reasons. They were detained more than 3 months ago in the scope of the "Revolutionary Headquarters" investigation. Lawyer Tuncer demands an official reasoning if the rumour should be confirmed.

The trial against the Beyoğlu Troupe opened upon the complaint of PM Erdoğan will start on 21 January. Journalist Ekşi is also facing prosecution. At the same time, CHP Deputy Mengü complained about the cartoon book "The young Mustafa" on the life of Mustafa Atatürk.

RTÜK issued a warning to Show TV on the grounds of the series "Magnificent Century". The series about the life of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent went on air on 6 January. It is alleged to be "contrary to the national and moral values of the society", RTÜK said.

The Siverek High Criminal Court will prosecute former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Tanrıkulu on the grounds of his criticism of the Diyarbakır Military Court. The court had decreed for a lack of jurisdiction for the JİTEM case and the release of a defendant.

The European Court of Human Rights convicted Turkey of a violation of the "right to respect for private life" upon an application lodged by 10 prisoners. They had applied because letters in Kurdish written to their families had not been dispatched by the prison administrations.

Journalist Orhan, General Publications Director of the Değişim Media Group and owner of the www.ereglininsesi.com website, filed a complaint because he was allegedly threatened after writing news and comments about Mayor Posbıyık. Orhan applied for protection.