IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet

A total of 71 journalists are behind bars on the Day of the Imprisoned Writer, while the list of those convicted or awaiting trial continues to grow.

The Alternative Information Association and BIANET argue that the filtering proposal constitutes illegal censorship and violates the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc announced that plans were under way to include online media under the mandate of the Press Law. The Alternative Information Association has criticised the process by which the bill is being developed, and its scope.

Ragip Zarakolu and Büşra Ersanlı were detained on 29 October as part of the police’s Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) operation. They remain in detention.

The agencies are the main source of news for newspapers and television channels and their statement has created concerns over whether the news is going to be “controlled right from the start”.

Hatip Dicle from the Labour, Peace and Democracy Block is facing prison sentences of a total of 10 years on charges related to a book he wrote in 2008 and a speech he made in 2009.

Folk singer Raziye Kizil has been subjected to ongoing judicial harassment for singing Kurdish folk songs; she currently faces a total of 10 years in prison on related charges.

Funda Uncu and Hasan Basri Ciplak are facing charges of “publishing obscenities” for translating and publishing the book “Olum Pornosu”; the work is the Turkish translation of American author Chuck Palahniuk’s book “Snuff”.