freedom of expression

The union member who wrote about those dieing because of the mines Turkey planted, has been on trial for the crime of denigration according to article 301. However, the court is now waiting for the permission to prosecute as stated in the recent revision of the article.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation organizes a panel about the freedom of expression in Turkey after the revision of article 301. Expressing different opinions, the participants agree that the revision has not pleased anyone.

Malatya court held the seventh hearing of the trial of the murdered Protestants. The court tried to fix the inconsistencies in the statements of the defendants and introduced additional new charges. It also allowed the children of the victims to watch the trial.

Halil Savda, a conscientious objector, who is in jail for supporting other conscientious objectors, is also sentenced to five months for supporting the Israeli conscientious objectors.

University students from Yüksekova start a signature campaign to support Erkan Çapraz of the Yüksekova Haber Newpaper to stop the pressure on him, which is preventing him to do his work as a journalist.

The public prosecutor demanded punishment for Sarkis Seropyan and Aris Nalcı of the newspaper Agos. They are on trial for “obstructing proceedings for fair trial.” The lawyers say that there is no need for defense, since the decision has already been made.

Activist Eren Keskin was up against two trials for the same crime of “denigrating the Turkish military.” The previous one had ended in acquittal and the court decided that she could not be tried twice for the same crime.

A conversation about smoking turns into an article 301 investigation. A slogan using Bush is construed as denigrating the heads of the state.

Seven human rights organizations start a campaign for the removal of article 318, “the alienation of people from military service”. Close to a thousand people sign the declaration.

The European Parliament passes a report on Turkey. Although pleased with the imperfect 301 revision, it insists that major changes such as starting a development plan for southeastern Turkey should be implemented immediately.

At the 28th IPA Publishers Congress in Seoul, Korea, Ragip Zarakolu was voted recipient of the 2008 IPA Freedom to Publish Prize for his exemplary courage in upholding freedom to publish.

Tiryaki and İrem from the Democratic Society Party are sent to prison for voicing the slogan “End The War” during the Mothers Day meeting and pointing out to the situation of the women in a war they did not decide.

Journalist Arat Dink and imprisoned Burmese monk U Gambira are among the winners of Index on Censorship's 2008 Freedom of Expression Awards, which pay tribute to people around the world who have made outstanding contributions to free expression.

The accused gendarmerie Veysel Şahin on trial in Trabzon makes a deposition for Dink’s murder trial in İstanbul. He says they warned their superiors, but they did not take precautions. The two cases may be combined.

The conscientious objector Savda, still in prison, is declared exempt from military service to prevent the discussion of conscientious objection. Savda claims that he did not want the certificate of discharge.

The president Gül ratifies the revised 301, which now forbids denigrating the Turkish Nation rather than Turkishness. The permission to open a case will need the approval of the Ministry of Justice and the cases will be heard in the Criminal Court of Peace.

The Initiative Against Thought Crime restarts its activities as a reaction to the increased number of law suits targeting people who simply express their opinions. 200 people report themselves to the authorities for the same “crime”.

The Supreme Court of Appeals confirms the acquittal of Prof. Dr. Kaboğlu and Prof. Dr. Oran, who were on trial for four years for the Minority Rights and Cultural Rights Report they prepared to improve the role of civil society in Turkey.

Journalists do not draw a picture of a “contemporary” country, when it comes to the freedom of the press and the way the journalists are treated in Turkey.

The Turkish Parliament passes the revised 301 with the new expressions of “Turkish Nation” and “the State of the Turkish Republic” and lowers the upper limit for imprisonment to two years.