freedom of expression

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IPI: Hrant Dink is "World Press Freedom Hero"

The International Press Institute has honoured Hrant Dink's efforts for the freedom of expression posthumously.

12 December 2007

EFJ: Investigate Assault on Greek Journalist

After Greek journalist Andreas Rompopoulos was attacked in Istanbul on 5 December, the European Federation of Journalists has urged Turkey to investigate.

7 December 2007

Publisher Zarakolu Supported by Writer Jerjian

Writer George Jerjian has written a letter of support for publisher Ragip Zarakolu, who is on trial for publishing his book. Ferhat Tunc's case continues in December.

6 December 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Two Journalists May Face Prison in New Year

Journalists Önal in Tekirdag and Koyuncu in Afyonkarahisar both face a continuing trial in the new year. In both cases the prosecution is calling for prison sentences.

16 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Geylani: You Can't Stop Me From Speaking Kurdish

Independent Hakkari MP Hamit Geylani has protested against attempts to have his immunity lifted for speaking Kurdish during the election campaign.

14 November 2007

Journalist On Trial For Last Five Years

Journalist Ersen Korkmaz, owner of the Demokrat Iskenderun newspaper, has been on trial under Article 159, now succeeded by Article 301, for the last five years.

14 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Newspaper Confiscated for "Anti-Military" Article

The 32nd issue of a local Gaziantep newspaper was confiscated after an article entitled "Mother, Don't Send Me to the Army" was published.

14 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Broadcasting and Print Ban on Hostage Investigation

Broadcasting and Print Ban on Hostage Investigation

After the State Council rejected a broadcasting ban on the PKK attack in Daglica on 21 October, a military court has now announced a broadcasting and print ban on the prosecution of the eight soldiers released from PKK captivity.

14 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

No Trial against Journalist Umur Talu

Istanbul Press Prosecutor Nurten Altinok has decided to drop proceedings against journalist Umur Talu who had described the dissatisfaction of sergeants in the army.

13 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Malatya Murder Case To Start 23 November

After three employees of the Zirve publishing house were killed in their office in Malatya seven months ago, the trial of sevem of the suspects starts in ten days.

13 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Protests against Cumhuriyet Journalist's Dismissal

The "We Want Our Future" Istanbul Initiative protested against the dismissal of journalist Erdogan Aydin; the Tunceli Bar Association has called for a review of the decision.

12 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Turkey Strongly Urged to Liberalize Article 301

Rights organisation Freedom House has called for changes in Article 301, as well as a less restrictive application of the new Turkish Penal Code.

12 November 2007

Local TV in Diyarbakir Fined by RTÜK

RTÜK has fined the Diyarbakir Gün TV a total of 200,000 YTL for "broadcasts violating truth and neutrality".

9 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

RSF: 301 Needs "Deeds not Words"

In a press release of 7 November, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) have called on the Turkish Minister of Justice to act on promises to change Article 301.

9 November 2007

Journalist Talu "Warned"

After "Sabah" newspaper journalist Umur Talu wrote a column entitled "He Was the Politest Politician, But Look What Happened", lawyers from the Dogan Media Group issued a refutation and rectification statement.

7 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Arat Dink and Seropyan Sentenced

Agos editor-in-chief Arat Dink and licence holder Serkis Seropyan have been given a deferred one-year prison sentence each under Article 301.

7 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Tunc from EMEP Party at ECHR

EMEP Tunceli Province Chair Hüseyin Tunc has been sentenced for “praising a crime and criminals”. He will appeal at the ECHR.

2 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

State Council Criticises Government Censorship

The State Council has criticised the government's insistence on banning radio and TV broadcasts referring to the PKK attack in Daglica, Hakkari, on 21 October.

2 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Student Making Death Threat in Court

Publisher Necati Abay was threatened by student Mert Sahin after making a statement on the murder of Hrant Dink. The student is now on trial.

2 November 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Yeni Asya Newspaper on Trial again

Yeni Asya's editor-in-chief Faruk Cakir is on trial again. The charge against him is that of violating the secrecy of an investigation.

30 October 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Third Quarterly Media Monitoring Report: Full Text

Bia Media Monitoring Desk

Third Quarterly Media Monitoring Report: Full Text

The third quarterly report of the Bia Media Monitoring Desk has appeared, detailing violations of press freedom and the freedom of expression in the months of July, August and September 2007.

30 October 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Activists Protest against Undemocratic Court Cases

The Turkish Initiative against Crimes of Thought, also known as Antenna-TR, has drawn international attention to three recent court cases.

26 October 2007

3 French Journalists Released after 30 Hours

Perrier, Vigoureux and de Banville, theree French journalists who were detained during border pass have been released, but their camera is seized as "instrument of crime".

26 October 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Two French Journalists Detained at Border

Yesterday, two French journalists were arrested at a Turkish border gate with Northern Iraq after they refused to show their film material to officials.

25 October 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Government Ban Violates Right to Access to Information

Journalists' associations have condemned the government's decision to ban broadcasts about the PKK attack in Hakkari.

24 October 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

BIA Media Monitoring Desk: Quarterly Report Published

The BIA Media Monitoring Desk publishes regular quarterly and annual reports on the state of press freedom and the freedom of expression in Turkey. The period of July, August and September 2007 has again witnessed many trials for journalists.

21 October 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Prosecution Not Letting Go of 301

Despite pressure from the EU and human rights activists internationally and domestically, the prosecution of journalists, writers and activists under the infamous Article 301 continues.

19 October 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

Article 19 Expresses Concern

International Reaction to Agos Sentence

The sentencing of Arat Dink and Serkis Seropyan, journalists of the Turkish-Armenian newspaper previously edited by murdered journalist Hrant Dink, has provoked international reaction.

17 October 2007

Human Rights Watch Warns:

Gay Rights Organization Threatened With Ban

The Human Rights Watch has published a press release, in which it condemns pressure put on a gay rights organisation in Istanbul.

17 October 2007

Sanctions and Trial for Comments on Atatürk

Professor Atilla Yayla has faced workplace sanctions and harassment in the press, and now faces criminal charges for comments made on Turkish history in a panel discussion.

16 October 2007

Kurdish Writer Mehmed Uzun Has Died

Kurdish Writer Mehmed Uzun Has Died

Prominent Kurdish Writer Uzun, who lived in exile in Sweden for a long time, died yesterday (11 October). His death is a great loss to Kurdish and world literature.

12 October 2007 Tolga Korkut

39 TV Programmes Stopped in September

The Press Council has announced that the Radio and Televison Supreme Council stopped 39 programmes of 16 channels in September.

5 October 2007 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü