**Updates IFEX alert of 5 January 2000** (IFJ/IFEX) – The IFJ and its regional organisation the European Federation of Journalists are increasingly concerned by the actions of the Turkish Cypriot administration against the daily Turkish Cypriot newspaper “AVRUPA”. According to the IFJ’s updated information, “AVRUPA” was sentenced to pay US$260,000 to Rauf Denktash of the […]
**Updates IFEX alert of 5 January 2000**
(IFJ/IFEX) – The IFJ and its regional organisation the European Federation of Journalists are increasingly concerned by the actions of the Turkish Cypriot administration against the daily Turkish Cypriot newspaper “AVRUPA”.
According to the IFJ’s updated information, “AVRUPA” was sentenced to pay US$260,000 to Rauf Denktash of the Turkish Cypriot Administration as compensation for having published information that was considered defamatory. The same court ordered the newspaper to pay an additional amount of about US$30,000 to cover the trial costs. It is clear that it is impossible for “AVRUPA” to pay this amount, and the inevitable result will be the silencing of the paper.
In the meantime, “AVRUPA” and six of its journalists have received more summonses, (which now totals ninety summonses) to appear before a military court on charges of “inciting among the people hate against the Turkish Cypriot state, defaming the government, and undermining the security forces”.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– expressing the belief that these charges are an attempt to eliminate freedom of expression in the Turkish Cypriot community and silence voices supporting rapprochement, friendship and cooperation between Turkish and Greek Cypriots in their common homeland
– expressing the belief that the principles and issues raised by this case get to the heart of European values of democracy and press freedom
– noting that these concerns are also being raised with the institutions of the European Union and the Council of Europe
– expressing the opinion that while the Turkish Cypriot authorities may well resent the editorial position of “AVRUPA” which is critical of official policy in North Cyprus and the consolidation of the division of Cyprus into two separate states, these are legitimate and serious opinions that should have expression in a democracy
– calling on them to lift the current legal action against the newspaper “AVRUPA”
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:Rauf Dentash
Turkish Cypriot Administration
through Union of Cyprus Journalists
Fax: +357 266 45 98Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
Office of the Prime Minister
Basbakanlik
06573 Ankara, Turkey
Fax: +90 312 417 04 76Minister of State Ali Yrtemcelik
Fax: +90 312 419 63 41Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
