RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 198

Unrest during Run-Up to Parliamentary Elections

Unrest during Run-Up to Parliamentary Elections

Supporters of independent candidates Emrullah Bingül and Levent Tüzel in Izmit and Istanbul were beaten and attacked with knives by members of a nationalist youth organization. Both candidates are affiliated with the Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block.

31 May 2011 Ekin Karaca

4 Years Later: Court Considers Additional Suspect

4 Years Later: Court Considers Additional Suspect

The court eventually decided to investigate who else was involved in the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink. Osman Hayal will be investigated. Cell phone records are requested from TİB and three GSM operators. The trial was postponed to 29 July.

31 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

Criminal Enforcement Law Creates Isolation within Isolation

Criminal Enforcement Law Creates Isolation within Isolation

In a meeting organized by the İHD Prison Commission, attention was drawn to the negative effects of isolation cells on prisoners. Forensic medicine experts, lawyers and human rights defenders demanded the abrogation of Articles 16 and 25 of the law.

30 May 2011 Ayça Söylemez

Convicted for Threats against Local Newspaper

Convicted for Threats against Local Newspaper

The Tunceli Emek newspaper won their case against former Vice Director of the Tunceli National Education Department Çakmak and Samsun Municipality employee Erdoğan. At the same time, twelve trials are pending against the local daily.

30 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

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

Advanced Democracy? Thanks, We just Need Democracy

Advanced Democracy? Thanks, We just Need Democracy

The "new constitution" issue has been dropped off from the ruling AK Party's agenda until the post-election period. Voters in Turkey do not have a clue as to why though. It seems that Turkey needs proper democracy in the first place, before looking for the advanced one.

27 May 2011 Burak Cop

"Decision for Internet Filter Should be Withdrawn Immediately"

"Decision for Internet Filter Should be Withdrawn Immediately"

Massive criticism on the internet filter system to be enforced on 22 August was voiced in a meeting on the matter at Bilgi University on 25 May. The participants demanded to withdraw the decision.

27 May 2011 Şahin Artan

Testimony of 'Secret Witness' Expected

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

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

Poet's Criticism of Prime Minister 'Free of Charge'

Poet's Criticism of Prime Minister 'Free of Charge'

The compensation claim filed by PM Erdoğan against poet Beyramoğlu was dismissed by the Ankara 15th Civil Court of First Instance. The court decided that Beyramoğlu's criticism of the Prime Minister remained within the scope of freedom of thought.

23 People Taken into Police Custody in Adana

23 People Taken into Police Custody in Adana

23 people were taken into custody in the course of police operations on 25 May in Adana because they allegedly attended commemoration events for executed Turkish leftist revolutionaries.

26 May 2011 Ekin Karaca

Regularized Number Plates - The Latest Black List

Regularized Number Plates - The Latest Black List

After the list of "banned words" recently issued by the Telecommunication Communication Presidency, now a list of banned letter combinations for motorized vehicles came to the agenda.

Summit on Controversial Internet Filter System

Summit on Controversial Internet Filter System

On 25 May, the Internet Committee organizes a meeting with non-governmental organizations, public representatives and experts to discuss the much disputed internet filter system. The application is going to be enforced on 22 August.

25 May 2011 Ekin Karaca

Cyber Attack Spread to Yüksekova News Site

Cyber Attack Spread to Yüksekova News Site

The website of the Yüksekova News daily became the latest target for the time being in a series of cyber attacks on news wesites such as Birgün, bianet and Sol Haber.

Isolation Punishment for Conscientious Objector Executed

Isolation Punishment for Conscientious Objector Executed

The 20-day isolation punishment for conscientious objector İnan Süver on the grounds of "desertion" was executed as of 23 May. Süver resumed his hunger strike on 16 May as a sign of protest against his imprisonment.

24 May 2011 Ekin Karaca

Attacks on Offices of Independent Candidates

Attacks on Offices of Independent Candidates

Two election offices of the Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block were demolished in Mersin; the police did not take any action. One office in Istanbul was damaged. Istanbul Candidate Önder was personally attacked.

Four Defendants Released in MLKP Trial

Four Defendants Released in MLKP Trial

The Istanbul 12th High Criminal Court decided to release Atılım newspaper executive Çiçek and three other defendants pending trial. Özgür Radio employee Erdoğan remains in prison. The defendants are charged with membership in the underground MLKP organization.

18 May 2011 Nilay Vardar

bianet. org Hit by Massive Cyber Attack

bianet. org Hit by Massive Cyber Attack

The publication of bianet.org was interrupted yesterday between 3.30 and 11.30 pm as a result of a cyber attack. We would like to thank our readers and colleagues who evinced their solidarity with us.

18 May 2011 Bianet Team

Cyber Attack on Birgün Daily Website

Cyber Attack on Birgün Daily Website

Access to the birgün.net website of the left-wing Birgün daily was rendered almost impossible after the website was flooded with hits on 16 May. The cyber attack was carried out via a minimum of 200 IP addresses, it was announced.

Riots in South-Eastern Turkey after Military Operations

Riots in South-Eastern Turkey after Military Operations

Thousands of people in south-eastern Turkey demonstrated against military operations that left 12 PKK members and 5 soldiers dead. Shops in the region remained closed, schools were boycotted. Demonstrators clashed with the police.

Journaist Çelik Sentenced for News about Police Officers

Journaist Çelik Sentenced for News about Police Officers

Journalist Ersin Çelik received a ten-month prison sentence because of a news item about police officers who allegedly killed student Aydın Erdem. Çelık was convicted of "disclosing the identity of a public official on anti-terror duties".

Country-Wide Protests: "Don't Touch the Internet"

Country-Wide Protests: "Don't Touch the Internet"

Tens of Thousands of people took the streets in 31 Turkish provinces on 15 May to demonstrate against the "Draft Bill on Rules and Procedures of the Safety of Internet Use". The draft law will be enforced on 22 August.

16 May 2011 Ekin Karaca,Çiçek Tahaoğlu

Journalists Şık and Mavioğlu Acquitted

Journalists Şık and Mavioğlu Acquitted

Journalists Ahmet Şık and Ertuğrul Mavioğlu were acquitted of charges of "violation of confidentiality" based on their two volumes on the Ergenekon investigation. The case was in the focus of national and international trial observers.

16 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

4 Students in Custody for Attending Demonstrations

4 Students in Custody for Attending Demonstrations

4 students in Van who were active in recent student protests were taken into custody by the Anti-Terror Police on 11 May. They were allowed to talk to their lawyers only after 24 hours. The lawyers are barred from seeing the file because of a decision of confidentiality.

13 May 2011 Ekin Karaca

Journalist Çapraz on Five-Year Probation Period

Journalist Çapraz on Five-Year Probation Period

The Yüksekova 1st Criminal Court of First Instance sentenced journalist Erkan Çapraz to imprisonment of ten months for publishing a certain article on the Yüksekova Haber newspaper's website. The pronouncement of the judgement was postponed.

12 May 2011 Erol Önderoğlu

2506 People Taken into Custody in 50 Days

2506 People Taken into Custody in 50 Days

Throughout the whole year of 2009, a total of 7718 people were taken into police custody. 2500 people were taken into custody only within the past 50 days.400 of them were arrested.

Wall around Murder of Journalist Mumcu Holds

Wall around Murder of Journalist Mumcu Holds

The Ankara Chief Prosecution decided that there was no need for a further prosecution regarding the assassination of journalists Mumcu 18 years ago. Mumcu's family had complaint about negligence of public officials during the investigation and the trial.

No Advance Notification for News on Private Life

No Advance Notification for News on Private Life

Upon the application filed by former International Automobile Federation Mosely, the ECHR ruled that newspapers do not have the legal duty to notify the subjects of intended publications in advance.

Independent "16 Pages" Newspaper in the Starting Block

Independent "16 Pages" Newspaper in the Starting Block

The first issue of the "16 Pages" newspaper will be published on coming Friday. The "weekly opposition" newspaper aims at financial and political independence. It will be sold at major bookstores and news agents in Istanbul and Ankara.

Journalists Attacked in Edirne and Malatya

Journalists Attacked in Edirne and Malatya

Two journalists were attacked after an event of the Republican People's Party Youth Division in Malatya on 6 May. On the same day, three journalists were assaulted by unidentified individuals in Edirne. Journalists associations condemned the attacks.

12 September File on Torture

12 September File on Torture

Because of new information on deaths under torture that increased after the military coup of 12 September 1980 the independent communication network BIA (Bianet) published reports from 1986 again. The DTF has made a summarized translation of them.

Maltreated at Home, Harassed and Threatened at the Police

Maltreated at Home, Harassed and Threatened at the Police

Female T.A. from Çorlu was first harassed and then threatened by the police after she had reported the harassment to the Dicle News Agency. She initially went to the police to complain about her violent husband.