(IPI/IFEX) – IPI, meeting at its World Congress and 48th General Assembly in Taipei, Taiwan from 16 to 19 May 1999, is strongly condemning the jailing of Turkish journalist Oral Calislar. **Updates IFEX alert of 24 July 1998** Calislar, a columnist for the daily “Cumhuriyet”, was convicted under the Anti-Terror Law in the Istanbul State […]
(IPI/IFEX) – IPI, meeting at its World Congress and 48th General Assembly in
Taipei, Taiwan from 16 to 19 May 1999, is strongly condemning the jailing of
Turkish journalist Oral Calislar.
**Updates IFEX alert of 24 July 1998**
Calislar, a columnist for the daily “Cumhuriyet”, was convicted under the
Anti-Terror Law in the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) on 18 May and
sentenced to thirteen months in prison by a two-thirds majority.
He has been on trial for the past six years on charges relating to his book,
“The Kurdish Problem with Ocalan and Burkay.” IPI understands that if the
higher court approves the DGM decision, Calislar can expect to serve nine
months in prison.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the prime minister:
Turkey to respect the fundamental principles of free expression
than
any other country in the world; a paradoxical situation for a country which
otherwise has a vibrant and vociferous media
sanction for an alleged offence involving the peaceful expression of an
opinion
can be imprisoned for what they write
Appeals To
H.E. Bulent Ecevit
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Basbakanlik
06573 Ankara, Turkey
Fax: +90 312 417 0476
E-mail: ddlbsl@tccb.gov.tr
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