trial

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20 Months to Jail for News on Kurdish Question

20 Months to Jail for News on Kurdish Question

Journalist Irmak Saadet was handed down prison sentences of a total of 20 months and monetary fines adding up to TL 18,140. The convictions were based on several articles and news items published in the Yeni Yorum magazine and the Ülkede Yorum newspaper.

30 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Testimony of 'Secret Witness' Expected

HAYIRSEVENER MURDER TRIAL

Testimony of 'Secret Witness' Expected

In the context of the trial on the murder of journalist Hayırsevener, the Istanbul 10th Special Authority High Criminal Court decided to summon 24 witnesses to the coming hearing in October. A secret witness might be heard as well.

27 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Final Plea Expected for Coming Hearing

HRANT DINK MURDER

Final Plea Expected for Coming Hearing

The prosecutor is going to prepare his final plea in the case against murder suspect Ogün Samast for the coming hearing on 17 June. Samast stands accused of murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink; he described himself as a victim of circumstances.

26 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Şener on Trial for Business Man's Wedding Contract

Journalist Şener on Trial for Business Man's Wedding Contract

Arrested journalist Şener was at court in the context of an "alleged violation of private life" of Turkish business man Uzan based on an article about a wedding contract. Şener was supported by colleagues and members of the Freedom for Journalists Platform.

9 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Sued for Calling Deputy "Manservant of the People"

Journalist Sued for Calling Deputy "Manservant of the People"

Gerger Fırat newspaper owner Boğatekin faces a Tl 10,000 (€ 5,000) compensation claim filed by AKP Deputy Fırat. The court rejected the defence lawyer's request for a new expert report. The trial was postponed to 30 June.

3 May 2011 Emir Çelik

Journalists Mavioğlu and Soykan at Court

Journalists Mavioğlu and Soykan at Court

Journalists Mavioğlu and Soykan are on trial for their article in the context of an article and a photograph published in 2009. The Freedom for Journalists Platform criticized that journalists are being pushed towards auto-censorship with this sort of trials.

3 May 2011 Emir Çelik

Prosecutor Pleaded for Acquittal of Journalist Erdal

Prosecutor Pleaded for Acquittal of Journalist Erdal

The prosecutor demanded the acquittal of Zaman newspaper writer Erdal. The journalist is being tried upon the complaint of judges Aslan and Alp on the grounds of news about the Ergenekon and Sledgehammer cases.

Protection Board: "Beat Generation" Immoral

Protection Board: "Beat Generation" Immoral

The Prime Ministerial Board for the Protection of Children from Harmful Publications demanded punishment for the book "The Soft Machine" because it does "not comply with the social morality". Sel Publishing called this an "outrageous injustice done to a work of art".

Journalist Şener at Court for the First Time after his Arrest

Journalist Şener at Court for the First Time after his Arrest

Journalist Nedim Şener was taken to court for the first time since his arrest on 6 March. The trial was opened on the grounds of a news article written by Şener. He was supported inside and in front of the court house by his family, friends and colleagues.

19 April 2011 Emir Çelik

On Trial for Attending Funeral of Writer Bozoklar

On Trial for Attending Funeral of Writer Bozoklar

27 people, among them members of the press, are standing trial under allegations of "membership in the Marxist Leninist Communist Party because they attended the funeral of revolutionary writer Kutsiye Bozoklar. The case was postponed to September.

Journalist Şık Absent at Court - Transportation Mishap at Prison

Journalist Şık Absent at Court - Transportation Mishap at Prison

"We touch even if we get burned" was the motto of demonstrators who protested the trial against journalists Ahmet Şık and Ertuğrul Mavioğlu. The hearing was postponed to 13 May because Şık was not brought to court by the authorities of the Silivri Prison.

15 April 2011 Ayça Söylemez

On Trial for Commemorating Deceased Communist

On Trial for Commemorating Deceased Communist

24 people are on trial in Bursa on charges of "praising a criminal" because they commemorated communist Kaypakkaya. Several NGOs and political parties protested the trials questioning, "Killing somebody by torture is not a crime but it is a crime to commemorate revolutionists?"

Journalist Pelek still in the Dock for "Editorship"

Journalist Pelek still in the Dock for "Editorship"

Journalist Pelek gave her statement in the trial filed against her and journalist Dolu on the grounds of having published General Fırtına's statement at the prosecution related to the Ergenekon investigation. The case was postponed to August.

1 April 2011 Emir Çelik

Decision of PM's Trial against Beyoğlu Troupe Expected Soon

Decision of PM's Trial against Beyoğlu Troupe Expected Soon

The case against 16 members of the Beyoğlu Troupe of Actors, comprised by university students, is still pending. A decision is expected at the coming hearing in May. The defendants are facing imprisonment of up to two years each.

Kurdish Musician Tunç Tried for Saying "Guerrilla"

Kurdish Musician Tunç Tried for Saying "Guerrilla"

After more than a hundred cases were opened against Kurdish folk singer Tunç, he is now facing charges of "propaganda for an illegal organization" for using the term "guerrilla". Tunç sees this kind of trials as a means of intimidation. The case will start in May.

28 March 2011 Ekin Karaca

Number of Detained Defendants Increased to 161

SLEDGEHAMMER TRIAL

Number of Detained Defendants Increased to 161

The "Sledgehammer Coup Plan" trial was continued on 14/15 March, one month after the Istanbul court decided to release arrest warrants about 163 people of whom 157 were arrested in the meantime. Ret. General Çetin presented his 85-page defence speech.

Journalist Mavioğlu in the Dock again

Journalist Mavioğlu in the Dock again

Journalist Mavioğlu from the Radikal newspaper stand accused of "propaganda" on the grounds of an interview with PKK leader Karayılan. Mavioğlu is facing up to three years in prison. "Despite efforts to put even more people behind bars, we will continue to write and talk", he claimed.

14 March 2011 Emir Çelik

Trial on Seven Speeches of Kurdish Politician Postponed

Trial on Seven Speeches of Kurdish Politician Postponed

Ahmet Türk, former Co-Chair of the banned Democratic Society Party, is facing imprisonment of up to 45 years in a trial regarding seven different speeches. The case was postponed to 16 June for the preparation of the final speech of the prosecution.

Judge: "Lawyers and Prosecutors are not Equal, This is not the USA"

Judge: "Lawyers and Prosecutors are not Equal, This is not the USA"

Progress in the trial against Oda TV News Director Barış Terkoğlu, detained defendant of the Ergenekon investigation, was impeded by a discussion that evolved between the court board and the defence lawyers. The case was postponed to 17 August.

Appeals against Arrests Overruled

SLEDGEHAMMER TRIAL

Appeals against Arrests Overruled

The appeals against the arrest of 162 detained defendants of the "Sledgehammer" trials were rejected by majority vote because the defendants might conceal evidence otherwise. Court President Akçay opposed the decision, saying the arrests were "not just".

Transgender Individuals Sued after Groundless Custody

Transgender Individuals Sued after Groundless Custody

Three activists of the Pink Life LGBT Association are sued for alleged resistance against the police. They had refused to be taken to the police station without a concrete reason. The complaining police officers failed to appear at any of the hearings.

25 February 2011 Burçin Belge

Journalist Ekşi at Court for "Insult"

Journalist Ekşi at Court for "Insult"

The trial against former Hürriyet Chief Editor Ekşi filed by PM Erdoğan and State Ministers Eroğlu and Yıldız commenced on 15 February. Defence lawyer Bayraktar claimed that his client did not address the complainants but used a common idiom.

17 February 2011

163 Arrest Warrants in "Sledgehammer" Trial

163 Arrest Warrants in "Sledgehammer" Trial

The Istanbul 10th High Criminal Court decided to arrest 163 retired and active top rank military officers in the scope of the "Sledgehammer Coup Plan". New evidence suggests that the Sledgehammer plan was not only a seminar but designed to be implemented.

13 February 2011

Journalists under Threat of Unemployment and Imprisonment

FREEDOM FOR JOURNALISTS PLATFORM

Journalists under Threat of Unemployment and Imprisonment

The Freedom for Journalists Platform supported journalist Saymaz at his latest hearing. Olcayto said on behalf of the platform, "The trials and investigations against journalists prove a lack of press freedom and freedom of expression in Turkey".

7 February 2011 Emir Çelik

Sexual Harassment - No Matter of Honour!

Sexual Harassment - No Matter of Honour!

Two defendants tried in two separate cases for alleged sexual harassment of women on New Year's Eve were released at the first hearing. One of the defendants said, "A woman in a mini skirt and sleeveless top accused me. I know what honour means".

4 February 2011 Burçin Belge

Journalist Erdal's Case Adjourned

Journalist Erdal's Case Adjourned

The trial against court reporter Erdal from Zaman newspaper was postponed again. Erdal, editorial manager Beşer and Ankara correspondent Arslan are tried in a joint case because of articles on the release of detained "Ergenekon" and "Sledgehammer" defendants.

3 February 2011 Emir Çelik

Quick Decision in Case against bianet?

Quick Decision in Case against bianet?

The trial launched by former Prisons and Arrest Stations General Manager Ertosun against bianet co-ordinator Kürkçü and Lawyer Tanay of the Contemporary Lawyers Association was postponed to March. At the same day, Ertoson made journalist Talu publish a disclaimer.

31 January 2011 Emir Çelik

Conscientious Objector's Relatives Also Persecuted

Conscientious Objector's Relatives Also Persecuted

Five people stand trial in Eskişehir on charges of "alienating the public from military service" on the grounds of their support for conscientious objector Enver Aydemir. Aydemir's father and his lawyer are among the defendants.

25 January 2011 Emir Çelik

MP Ersin: "State Responsible for Killing of Ayşe Paşalı"

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

MP Ersin: "State Responsible for Killing of Ayşe Paşalı"

The case against İstikbal Yetkin who allegedly killed his divorced wife Ayşe Paşalı, in spite of the victim's complaints to the police, started in Ankara. The hearing was observed by 40 women lawyers, representatives of women organizations and Ahmet Ersin from the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission.

21 January 2011 Burçin Belge

PM Erdoğan Brings Writer Altan to Trial

PM Erdoğan Brings Writer Altan to Trial

After PM Erdoğan launched court cases against author Ataol Behramoğlu, journalist Oktay Ekşi and members of the Beyoğlu Troupe of Actors, he now also pressed a heavy compensation claim against journalist Ahmet Altan from Taraf newspaper.

19 January 2011 Emir Çelik

Trial against Lawyer Rişvanoğlu Postponed again

Trial against Lawyer Rişvanoğlu Postponed again

Lawyer Rişvanoğlu, tried for his statements made on Roj TV, was represented by 28 lawyers in the hearing on 11 January. The case was adjourned once more to wait for an expert report. The Adana Branch of the Contemporary Lawyers Association harshly criticized the trial.

14 January 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Pınar Sağ: Double Standards in Judiciary?

Pınar Sağ: Double Standards in Judiciary?

Folk singer Pınar Sağ rejected the accusations put up against her in the trial regarding her utterances about revolutionist İbrahim Kaypakkaya. Sağ is facing imprisonment of up to five years.

23 December 2010 Burçin Belge

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