RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 213

Leading Kurdish Politician Convicted

Leading Kurdish Politician Convicted

A Diyarbakır court handed down a suspended ten-month prison sentence to BDP Co-chair Demirtaş, former president of the Human Rights Association branch, under charges of "propaganda for an illegal organization" because of a statement he made about PKK leader Öcalan.

29 September 2010 Erhan Üstündağ

"Finally, it is a Crime to Humiliate Roma"

"Finally, it is a Crime to Humiliate Roma"

80 defendants face imprisonment of three to 150 years on the grounds of an attack against Roma in Selendi/Manisa in January this year. They stand accused of inciting the public to hatred and hostility.

28 September 2010 Semra Pelek

"Propaganda" Trial for Güney Magazine

"Propaganda" Trial for Güney Magazine

Güney magazine editorial manager Özer is prosecuted over allegations of "spreading PKK propaganda" because of a story written by Mehmet Söğüt and a short picture story by Meray Ülgen. The first hearing is scheduled for 7 October.

28 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Torturers Will be Called to Account

Torturers Will be Called to Account

The Facts Research and Justice Commission decided to take the torturers of the Diyarbakır prison from the time around the 1980 military coup to court. Kurdish politician Miroğlu who was detained in the prison for several years, is both a victim and a witness.

28 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

French State Becoming more and more Xenophobic

French State Becoming more and more Xenophobic

The French Government announced that they will shut down the existing 300 Roma camps, claiming they became crime centers. The total number of deportees was 11.000 last year. EU specialist Aktar sees a connection between radical changes of policies and President Sarkozy's run-up to the 2011 elections.

27 September 2010 Burak Cop

"I Informed the Police of Dink Assassination," Testifies Witness

"I Informed the Police of Dink Assassination," Testifies Witness

Fethiye Çetin, joint attorney in the murder case of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink, said that the new statement of witness Özen should be taken seriously. She indicated to request the court in the coming hearing to investigate Özen's statement.

27 September 2010 Berivan Tapan

13 Left Wing Activists Arrested Under Terrorism Charges

13 Left Wing Activists Arrested Under Terrorism Charges

13 out of 17 people who were under police custody last week under charges of affiliation with a clandestine Revolutionary Headquarters Organization are arrested. The arrested belong to legal political groups of the Social Democracy Party and the the Platform for Social Freedom .

27 September 2010 Berivan Tapan

No Education in Mother Tongue with PM Erdoğan

No Education in Mother Tongue with PM Erdoğan

On the last day of the one-week school boycott for the right to education in the mother tongue in the Kurdish-majority South-East, PM Erdoğan announced: "Do not expect us to agree to education in the mother tongue, Turkey's official language is Turkish".

27 September 2010 Semra Pelek

Journalists Kurt and Doğan Acquitted in "Photo Trial"

Journalists Kurt and Doğan Acquitted in "Photo Trial"

The Istanbul 11th High Criminal Court acquitted journalists Doğan and Kurt. They stood accused of showing a colonel as a "target" because of publishing his picture in the context of the investigation into an assassination plot against Deputy PM Arınç.

24 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

More than 60 Trials against Journalist Erdal...

More than 60 Trials against Journalist Erdal...

More than 60 cases were opened against journalist Erdal because of her news articles about "Ergenekon" and the "Sledgehammer" coup plan. Now she was in court with journalists Arslan and Beşer. The Media Association criticizes a "breach of international agreements".

24 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

5 Children Arrested for School Boycott Campaign

5 Children Arrested for School Boycott Campaign

BDP District Mayor Demirel and 5 children were arrested in the town of Tutak when they distributed leaflets on the school boycott for the right to education in their mother tongue. BDP Provincial Chair Akyol was also interrogated in the context of the boycott.

24 September 2010 Semra Pelek

Congress Declaration Entails Investigation over Kurdish Politicians

Congress Declaration Entails Investigation over Kurdish Politicians

An investigation has been launched over six people including Kurdish politicians Türk and Tuğluk, co-chairs of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK). The probe is based on the report of results issued after the DTK Permanent Assembly's meeting.

23 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Attack on Art Galleries in Istanbul

Attack on Art Galleries in Istanbul

Five people were injured in an attack on art galleries in the Tophane district of Istanbul. Seven people were taken under police custody. Faculty member Dikbaş said it was an organized assault. Governor Mulu announced to launch a thorough investigation.

23 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

9 Arrests in Socialist Democracy Party and Social Freedom Platform

9 Arrests in Socialist Democracy Party and Social Freedom Platform

9 Members of the Socialist Democracy Party and the Social Freedom Platform were arrested in Istanbul and Bursa because of an alleged "connection with the Revolutionary Headquarters Organization", among them Party Chair Turan and Platform spokesman Kayserilioğlu.

22 September 2010 Ertuğrul Kürkçü

No Progress inTrial against Journalist Birand and Politician Tuğluk

No Progress inTrial against Journalist Birand and Politician Tuğluk

Journalist Birand, Deputies of the dissolved DTP Tuğluk and Akat, lawyer Şakar and another six people are facing imprisonment of up to 10 years. The court postponed the case to wait for the arrest of lawyer Şakar.

22 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalists Durukan and Çakkalkurt on their Way to Jail?

Journalists Durukan and Çakkalkurt on their Way to Jail?

The new prosecutor allocated to the trial against journalists Namık Durukan and Hasan Çakkalkurt followed his predecessor and demanded the conviction of the journalists once more. The case was postponed to 23 November.

22 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

School Boycott for Education in Mother Tongue

School Boycott for Education in Mother Tongue

The education union Eğitim-Sen and pro-Kurdish organizations called for a one-week school boycott in the Kurdish-majority South-East to claim the right to education in their mother tongue. President Gül criticized the boycott as the "enlisting of children for a political cause".

21 September 2010 Semra Pelek

Retired Colonel Temizöz Detained Pending Trial

Retired Colonel Temizöz Detained Pending Trial

Colonel Cemal Temizöz, former Kayseri Provincial Gendarmerie Regiment Commander, was brought to the Diyarbakır D Type Prison. He is tried for alleged kidnapping and killing 20 people with torture in Cizre between 1993 and 1995.

21 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

PKK Ceasefire Extended for 1 Week

PKK Ceasefire Extended for 1 Week

The militant Kurdistan Workers Party announced to have extended the ceasefire declared on 13 August until their meeting in the coming week. The organization emphasized that they were not behind last week's roadside bombing in Hakkari and blamed the Turkish government for disinformation.

20 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Ahtissari: Cyprus Issue Hinders EU Accession Process

Ahtissari: Cyprus Issue Hinders EU Accession Process

Ahtissari from the Independent Commission on Turkey said that everybody in Diyarbakır wants violence to end. He urged to find a mediator and prolong the ceasefire. Aguirre argued that the right to education and publications in the mother tongue are legitimate demands.

20 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Armenian Christians Celebrate First Mass after 95 Years in Akdamar

Armenian Christians Celebrate First Mass after 95 Years in Akdamar

The first service in 95 years was held in the Church of the Holy Cross on the island of Akdamar. Archbishop Ateşyan said that many people did not attend the mass because the cross had not been installed atop the dome.

20 September 2010 Semra Pelek

Facing 4 Years in Jail for 2 "Peace" Messages

Facing 4 Years in Jail for 2 "Peace" Messages

Musician Pınar Sağ is facing imprisonment of a total of four years for allegedly praising leftist revolutionary İbrahim Kaypakkaya and for criticizing the killing of 17 people by security forces. Sağ said in her defence: "I advocated for peace".

18 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Reality at Court Contradicts Ministry's Announcement

Reality at Court Contradicts Ministry's Announcement

Turkish journalists striving to reveal facts about the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink are prosecuted at special authority high criminal courts whereas officials who failed to prevent the murder are tried at magistrate courts. Journalist Göktaş now stands accused of "severe crime".

17 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

10 People Killed by Roadside Bomb in the South-East

10 People Killed by Roadside Bomb in the South-East

10 minibus passengers died in an explosion in the south-eastern province of Hakkari, four people got wounded. The Kurdish KCK blamed the "counter guerrilla" for the attack. PM Erdoğan said the attack would "not remain unanswered".

17 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

ECHR Decision not yet Considered in Trabzon Trial

ECHR Decision not yet Considered in Trabzon Trial

Şevki Uluçam, lawyer of defendant Colonel Öz, insists on his request to recuse the judge in the Trabzon case on "neglect" regarding the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink. The recently pronounced conviction of Turkey by the ECHR will be considered on 24 November.

16 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu,Berivan Tapan

Prison Threats Endanger Investigative Journalism in Turkey

Prison Threats Endanger Investigative Journalism in Turkey

Mijatovic from the OSCE appreciated Minister Davutoğlu's initiative for legal amendments to avoid trials on freedom of expression at the European Court of Human Rights and offered her assistance. She said that critical reporting is hindered by prion threats in Turkey.

16 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

54 Pro-Kurdish Mayors Acquitted of "Propaganda" Charges

54 Pro-Kurdish Mayors Acquitted of "Propaganda" Charges

The Diyabakır 5th High Criminal Court acquitted the 54 mayors who were tried for calling the militant PKK the "Kurdish opposition". The mayors had been facing prison sentences but the court followed the final plead of the prosecution.

15 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Turkey Unanimously Convicted in Hrant Dink Case

Turkey Unanimously Convicted in Hrant Dink Case

The European Court of Human Rights unanimously convicted Turkey in the murder case of Hrant Dink, then chief editor of the Armenian Agos newspaper. The court ruled for violations of freedom of expression, the right to life and to an effective remedy.

15 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalist Önal Threatened: The Day Will Come...

Journalist Önal Threatened: The Day Will Come...

CHP municipality member Bayraktar threatened journalist Önal in a meeting of the Şarköy (Thrace) municipality because of an article about his conviction on the grounds of beating his wife. Önal criticized the lack of intervention by the mayor.

14 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Criminal Charges Pressed against Coup Instigators of 1980

Criminal Charges Pressed against Coup Instigators of 1980

The MAZLUMDER human rights association in Ankara filed a criminal complaint against the coup instigators from the military coup 1980 one day after the referendum approved the lifting of provisional Article 15. The EDP filed complaints in Izmir and Bursa.

14 September 2010 Semra Pelek

8th Trial for Journalist Saymaz - 70-year Sentence Impending

8th Trial for Journalist Saymaz - 70-year Sentence Impending

Radikal newspaper reporter Ismail Saymaz will be tried for his article "Love games in Ergenekon" and faces imprisonment of 11.5 years. The 1st hearing is scheduled for 2011. This is the 8th case filed against Saymaz who faces prison sentences of a total of 70 years.

13 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Court of Appeals Approved Sentence against 54 Mayors

Court of Appeals Approved Sentence against 54 Mayors

The Court of Appeals approved monetary fines imposed on 54 mayors, members of the shut-down Democratic Society Party, who had been convicted on the grounds of a letter sent to former Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen to protest the closure of the Kurdish Roj TV.

13 September 2010 Erol Önderoğlu