Three members of the Bilgi University (Istanbul) teaching staff were suspended after a pornographic movie produced as part of a graduate thesis made the headlines. The issue is being discussed controversially in the Turkish media and academic environment.

Turkish lawyers discuss the judiciary's narrow interpretation of the recent amendment of article 102 of the Criminal Procedure Law. According to Istanbul Bar Association President Kocasakal, defendants should be released after a period of arrest of four years.

A court in Bursa decided for the closure of the Rainbow LGBT Association. The case was opened two years ago upon the complaint of the Bursa Governorship. Association President Özen commented, "This is a deplorable decision, but our struggle will not cease".

UNHCR spokesman Çorabatır emphasized that border security should include mechanisms that allow people to claim for asylum. In his opinion, a fence between Greece and Turkey does not solve the problem.

Lawyers Arın and Temel appreciated the draft bill on the amendment of the Law on the Protection of the Family but emphasized that it is not sufficient. The draft lacks protection measures for women who were exposed to violence, the lawyers criticized.

Besim Baykal, President of the Kurdish KURDİ-DER association, sees education in the mother tongue as a key to a solution of the Kurdish question. In the course of the recent discussion on the "bilingual life" project, applications for language courses rocketed.

Lawyer Kanar criticizes the judiciary's narrow interpretation of the recent amendment of Article 102 of the Criminal Procedure Law. According to Kanar, not only defendants detained for ten years should be released pending trial but also people detained for more than four or six years.

The Court of Appeals quashed the verdict for Kurdish singer Tunç's acquittal of charges of "propaganda for an illegal organization". Tunç was initially tried for referring to the death of 17 MKP members in the course of a military operation in 2004 during a performance.

The Human Rights Association (İHD) issued the Human Rights report 2010 for Turkey and graded the country with "0". İHD Istanbul Branch President Boğa said that a total of 480 people applied to the association during the past year because of rights violations.

Journalist Emine Demir is one of the Kurdish journalists sentenced by High Criminal Courts in the Kurdish-majority province of Diyarbakır. The courts decreed for prison terms of 167 years in total handed down to journalists of Kurdish papers and Kurdish politicians.

At the last MGK meeting of the year, it was stated that "instigations that target the indivisible integrity, would not come through." "Single flag, single nation, single country, single state, single language," were emphasized.

On the 16. anniversary of the deadly bomb attack by PKK militants when prominent writer Onat Kutlar and archeologist Yasemin Cebenoyan lost their lives, relatives urged the PKK apologize: "We may only forgive should the guilty apologise," said Mumcu of the Social Memory Platform. "We are not here for revenge."

According to Eğitim-Sen's survey on "Women's Representation in the Unions," a quota should be introduced for women' representation in the unions. However, to render this representation effective and meaningful, it is necessary to fight against the male dominated mentality.

The provincial branch heads of the ruling AKP and the opposition parties express contrversial expectations from President's visit to central southeastern Kurdis city of Diyarbakır. Gül's visit coincided with heated controversy on Kurdish demands of autonomy and bilingual life, sharply criticized by the government and military.

The Initiative for Boycott Against Israel for Palestine stages a protest rally in Istanbul on the anniversary of Israel's Operation Cast Lead against Gaza on 27 December 2008.

Medical treatment for prisoners and convicts are ignored and they are subjected to torture says former prisoner Ergezer, who was released after completing a six-year prison sentence. Similar allegations have been recorded in previous reports by Human Rights Association.

Upon request by local police court grants the Istanbul police a one-year search warrant. The decision authorizes the police search any student at the campus and in its surroundings. Students and academics react against the decision. He is not informed of the decision says rector Prof. Söylet.

The departments in the southeast Cizre municipality building, controlled by the pro-Kurdish BDP are titled in both Turkish and Kurdish. Inspite that Turkey officially recognizes only the Turkish language locals mother tongue Kurdish, will be openly used in public institutions. says deputy mayor Gölçe.

The Supreme Court of Appeals overturned a prison sentence handed to a police officer, who killed 18-year-old Gemik for not complying with the "Stop" warning. Gemik family lawyer Ermis stated that the decision by the Supreme Court of Appeals is unlawful and said that they will go to the ECHR if necessary.

Police violently dispersed trade union confederation DISK member who urged a restored historical building Otag-i Humayun, notorious for nesting torturers under military rule, turned into a human rights museum.