freedom of expression

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And Here are Bianet’s Questions for Prime Minister Erdogan…

And Here are Bianet’s Questions for Prime Minister Erdogan…

Three journalists and an academic asked Prime Minister Erdogan questions on live TV. Because we feel that their list was missing vital questions, here is our own list.

20 February 2008 Tolga Korkut

An Acquittal in Article 301: A Ray of Light?

After the Tunceli prosecution dropped a case against human rights activist Baris Yildirim, now a Tunceli court has followed the decree of the Supreme Court of Appeals to acquit trade unionist Hanefi Bekmezci.

20 February 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Dink Lawyers: Co-Plaintiffs But Left in the Dark

Before the fourth hearing of the Hrant Dink murder trial on 25 February, there is stil evidence of lack of transparency as the co-plaintiffs are not informed of procedures.

19 February 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist in “Insult” Case Released from Prison

Journalist Aktas was sent to prison for “insulting” the former vice governor of Mus in the press; however, a court has overruled the sentence.

18 February 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

RSF: Article 301 is “Enemy of Press Freedom”

In its annual report for 2008, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) criticised Article 301 and the nationalist obstruction of press freedom. The murder of Hrant Dink could have been prevented.

14 February 2008

RSF Joins Condemnation of Cartoonists’ Investigation

RSF joins the International Press Institute and the Cartoonists’ Rights Network International in their condemnation of the planned prosecution of two cartoonists.

7 February 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

BIA² 2007 Media Monitoring Report – Full Text

BIA² 2007 Media Monitoring Report – Full Text

The BIA² 2007 Media Monitoring Report reveals that there are still countless violations of press freedom across the country. There were also more attacks on journalists in 2007 than in the previous year, with the shocking murder of Hrant Dink still fresh in everyone's mind.

6 February 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Acquitted after Five Years

After questioning the expenditure of a district governor in the Devrek district of Zonguldak, journalist Ibrahim Tig faced a five-year trial. He was acquitted on 30 January.

5 February 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

International Protest at Cartoonists' Investigation

Both the International Press Institute and the Cartoonists' Rights Network have protested against preliminary proceedings against cartoonists Kart and Temocin who stand accused of insulting the President.

4 February 2008

HRW Report: Human Rights Trend is “Retrograde”

The annual Human Rights Watch Report on Turkey is pessimistic about developments. The report condemns freedom of speech violations, harassment of the DTP, violence against minorities and civilians.

31 January 2008

Turkish Academic Warns of Government Clampdown

31 January 2008 Liz Ford And Agencies

The Gang: Usual Trouble Makers in Intellectuals' Trials

The Gang: Usual Trouble Makers in Intellectuals' Trials

Veli Kücük, Kemal Kerincsiz, Sevgi Erenerol, now under arrest for charges of "conspiracy" had already come into notoriety for the part they played in the provocative shows in the trials opened upon their own complaints against liberal intellectuals.

28 January 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Youtube is Back... Access Should Not Be Blocked Again!

RSF and OSCE release general recommendations for internet use in the OSCE member states. "Filters can only be put in place by Internet users themselves" they recommend.

25 January 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Access to Youtube Blocked

Two Turkish judges successively impose categorical ban on access to Youtube.com, for the content of one single video clip.

23 January 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Indian dissident joins commemoration

"I Regret Never Meeting Dink" Says Roy

She had to live with the misfortune of never having met Hrant Dink, says Arundhati Roy, speaking at the Hrant Dink, Human Rights and Freedom of Expression Conference in Istanbul.

23 January 2008 Kudret Çobanlı

Journalists Targeted for Anti-Militarist Articles

Perihan Magden and Ece Temelkuran have been made targets by a nationalist newspaper for expressing their anti-militarist opinions. This is a frightening repeat of what happened to Hrant Dink.

22 January 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

BIA 2007 Media Monitoring Report: A Sad Year For Free Speech

BIA 2007 Media Monitoring Report: A Sad Year For Free Speech

Of 254 people tried, 55 were on trial under Article 301; six of them were convicted. 83 people were accused of supporting terrorism, 23 of inciting to hatred and hostility. 34 journalists and 12 media institutions were attacked; Turkey had to pay a total of 123,912 Euros compensation in ECHR cases.

18 January 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Heavy Punishments for Newspapers Reporting on Hostage Soldiers

The Sisli prosecution in İstanbul has fined six major Turkish newspapers for violating the publishing ban on the soldiers taken hostage by the PKK in October 2007.

18 January 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Attacker of Hakkari Journalist Imprisoned

Necip Capraz, owner of the Hakkari Yüksekova News newspaper, has won a case against his attacker, although he will appeal against the light punishment.

13 January 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

"Day of Working Journalists Is a Joke"

Dismissed journalists spoke out about working conditions in the press on the occasion of "Day of Working Journalists".

10 January 2008 Gökçe Gündüç

Turkish Intellectuals In Defense of Kurdish Politician

Ahmet Türk under investigation

Turkish Intellectuals In Defense of Kurdish Politician

Academics, artists and rights activists join support for pro-Kurdish DTP MP Türk, whose parliamentary immunity is threatened. International support comes from reputed American intellectual Noam Chomsky and PEN.

10 January 2008 Tolga Korkut

ECHR Condemns Censorship and Punishments Under Emergency Law

The ECHR has awarded compensation to journalists who were punished under emergency law.

10 January 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Nine Newspapers Punished for "Influencing Judiciary" in Malatya Case

Nine local newspapers, none with a circulation of over 4,000, have been fined for "influencing the judiciary" in the Malatya murder case.

10 January 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

ECHR Punishes Turkey in Conscientious Objection Case

The ECHR has sentenced Turkey to paying Sanar Yurdatapan 3,500 Euros compensation for violating freedom of expression.

9 January 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

Local Journalist on Trial for "Atatürk" Article

Yasin Yetisgen, responsible managing editor of the local "Coban Atesi" in Gaziantep, faces 7.5 years in prison for an article containing references to Atatürk.

9 January 2008 Erol Önderoğlu

One Month Closure Penalty for Yürüyüs Magazine

The Yürüyüs magazine featured Kevser Mizrak, who was killed by police in a raid on her home, on its cover. It has been punished with a one-month closure.

26 December 2007 Emine Özcan

Changes in 301 Presented to Cabinet within 15 Days

Minister of Justice Sahin has said that changes in the controversial Article 301 will be presented to the cabinet within 15 days.

26 December 2007 Tolga Korkut

Writer Magden Receives Suspended Prison Sentence

Writer Perihan Magden has been given a one year and two month suspended prison sentence for reporting on what people said about the then district governor (kaymakam) Aytac Akgül in Yüksekova, in the southeastern province of Hakkari.

16 December 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Singer Tunc's Trial Postponed by Five Months

The four-year trial of singer Ferhat Tunc, who criticised the imprisonment of Leyla Zana in the "Gündem" newspaper, has still not ended.

16 December 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

IPA Condemns Zarakolu's Trial

The IPA has protested against the long duration of the court case against Zarakolu, as well as against the charges brought.

14 December 2007

ECHR Faults Turkey in Azadiya Welat Case

The ECHR has found Turkey's decision to ban the publication of the Azadiya Welat newspaper for a week wrong.

12 December 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

They Did Not Pee at a Wall, But 301 Applies...

Journalists Irfan Ucar and Umur Hozatli are still charged under Article 301 for criticising losses and rights violations. Ferhat Tunc is in court today.

12 December 2007 Erol Önderoğlu