IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet

Two More Journalists Under Custody Law enforcement officials detained journalists Ibrahim Cicek and Ziya Ulusoy, as well as Ali Hidir Polat, an advisor to the head of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP,) on terrorism related charges Sunday. Law enforcement officials Sunday detained journalist Ibrahim Cicek in Istanbul, journalist Ziya Ulusoy in the Black […]

*Court Exonerates Columnist for Allegedly Anti-military Article* * * *The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office vindicated daily Cumhuriyet columnist Bekir Coskun of charges leveled against him by Turkey’s General Staff for an article he penned, while CHP deputy Sezgin Tanrikulu also proposed an amendment to nullify a law that prescribes prison terms for insulting the president.* […]

BIANET laments the poor state of press freedom in the country and says that recent judicial reforms that label some press crimes as “terrorism” will make the situation worse.

Member of Parliament Serafettin Halis says that every time he made a speech to his constituents, the authorities began another investigation against him.

The attack is reportedly related to a press release in which the association condemned an attack on Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk during Newroz celebrations in Batman.

In addition to the month-long ban on Ozgur Gundem, the Gun Printing Company was raided by the police and two issues of the newspaper were confiscated.

Ahmet Sik is facing an investigation after he criticised the judges and police officers who handled his case.

This is the second time that “Zaman” newspaper’s offices have been targeted, and editorial staff suspects it was more than ordinary vandalism.