Articles by IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet
Campaign to free Kurdish politician Leyla Zana launched
(BIANET/IFEX) – A group of rights activists has started a campaign against the 10-year prison sentence handed down to Kurdish politician Leyla Zana. A campaign to free Zana has been started by rights activists – among them, writers Bilgesu Erenus, Murathan Mungan, Seyhmus Diken and Ragip Zarakolu, human rights activists Hürriyet Sener, Esber Yagmurdereli and […]
CAPSULE REPORT: BIANET annual report records rise in threats against free expression in 2008
(BIANET/IFEX) – The following is a 16 March 2009 BIANET press release: Bia Media Monitoring Report 2008 Summary 435 “Thought Crimes” in Turkey in 2008 In 2008, the political landscape in Turkey became more polarised and the Kurdish question remained unresolved. Both government and army displayed intolerance toward criticism of their performance and questioning of […]
Gün TV in Diyarbakir barred from broadcasting news programme for six days
(BIANET/IFEX) – The Gün TV channel in Diyarbakir province has been barred from broadcasting its 7:30 p.m. news programme for six days after it was accused by the provincial election board of favouring the Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) on its channel. Gün TV is a local television station which broadcasts in the southeastern province […]
Journalists Mustafa Balbay and Neriman Aydin arrested in connection with case about overthrowing the government
(BIANET/IFEX) – The Ankara bureau chief of “Cumhuriyet Daily”, Mustafa Balbay, and online “Toplumsal Haber” columnist, Nerima Aydin, were taken under custody for a second time in relation to the Ergenekon case, involving accusations of overthrowing the government. Both were sent to Metris prison. Turkey’s Society of Journalists (TGC), Contemporary Journalists’ Association (ÇGD) and Turkey’s […]
Intellectuals rally in support of sociologist Ismail Besikci after threatening message is posted on armed group’s website
(BIANET/IFEX) – The following is a 25 February 2009 BIANET statement: A group of intellectuals and academics has condemned an armed group related to the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) for openly threatening sociologist Ismail Besikci on their website. Besikci is well-known in Turkey as the Turkish academic who, because of his research on the Kurds, […]
Radio Dunya acquitted after facing charges for broadcasting Kurdish folk song; other charges still pending
(BIANET/IFEX) – According to broadcasting editor Mehmet Arslan of Radio Dunya, a case brought against the station for playing the Kurdish folk song “Mihemedo” in 2007 has ended in acquittal. However, another case against the station is still in court. Radio Dunya broadcasts in the province of Adana, in southern Turkey. On 23 February 2009, […]
“The God Delusion” publisher faces charges of “inciting people to hatred”
(BIANET/IFEX) – The chief public prosecutor in Istanbul’s Sisli district has brought an action against publisher Erol Karaaslan of Kuzey Publications for “inciting people to hatred and hostility or denigration.” Last year, a complaint brought by another individual, Emre Bukagili, over the Turkish translation of “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins resulted in a court […]
Public prosecutor files an appeal of singer Bülent Ersoy’s acquittal
(BIANET/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of an 11 February 2009 BIANET statement: Following the acquittal of singer Bülent Ersoy for her criticism of cross-border operations into Northern Iraq last year, the prosecutor in the case is insisting on an appeal, arguing that Ersoy’s biological inability to have children is an insult to […]