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A lawsuit has been filed against writer and former academic Fikret Başkaya with the charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."
Başkaya has been sued for his article titled, "The Real Terror is State Terror," which was published on the website of the Free University (ozguruniversite.org). The Free University project is affiliated to the Turkey and Middle East Forum Foundation, which is founded and headed by Başkaya.
First hearing on March 21
The first hearing of the case will be held at the Ankara 21st Heavy Penal Court on March 21, 2019, at 9.30 a.m.
The Free University said in a statement, "Fikret Başkaya has been an unrelenting defender of freedom of expression and free thought throughout his life."
"As it is unfounded to 'discover' terrorist organization propaganda in Fikret Başkaya's article, it is not acceptable that the article being a subject to a lawsuit. This stance is the denial of free thought and the freedom of expression. And a regime, a social system that bans the freedom of expression, free thought, and free discussion cannot see ahead, cannot find its way, corrupts and collapses..." the statement added.
According to the BİA Media Monitoring Report, in 2018, at least 21 journalists have been sentenced to a total of 67 years, 7 months, 4 days (6 months and 7 days deferred) for the charges of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "covering terrorist organizations' statements".
About Fikret BaşkayaBaşkaya was born in 1940 in Denizli province. He graduated from the departments of finance and economy in the Faculty of Political Sciences at Ankara University. He completed his doctorate studies at universities of Paris and Poitiers. He did a lot of studies on underdevelopment, imperialism and problems in transition from capitalism to socialism. After he returned to Turkey, he was exiled to Oltu, Erzurum being considered "unfavorable private" from Officer Candidate School where he was doing his mandatory military service. He worked as a researcher at various institutions after his military service ended. He gave economy lectures at Social Services Academy for a while. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison on the charge of opposing to Law on Anti-Terror due to his book called "Paradigmanın İflası" as he was an academic member in the Faculty of Economics at Abant İzzet Baysal University. He did time in Haymana Closed Prison. In 2004, Başkaya faced up to 3 years in prison on charge of "insulting legal personality of the state" due to his articles he included in his book called "Akıntıya Karşı Yazılar" (Articles Against the Current". Ankara 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance ordered his acquittal ruling that Başkaya "remained within the limits of criticism" in 2005. In 2006, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism included Başkaya's book "Paradigmanın İflası" in its audiobook project. Başkaya has been giving lectures at Özgür Üniversite (Free University), which he founded, since 2007. |
(AS/VK)