Articles by IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet
“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 […]
Journalists Gokcer Tahincioglu and Kemal Goktas face up to three years in prison for “acquiring classified information”
(BIANET/IFEX) – Two journalists, the daily “Milliyet”‘s Gokcer Tahincioglu and “Vatan” newspaper’s Kemal Goktas, are on trial for allegations related to articles revealing the unlawful authorization of security forces, police, the gendarmerie and the national intelligence service to monitor all electronic communication between citizens. Tahincioglu and Goktas are accused of “acquiring classified information” and “rendering […]
In the two years since journalist Hrant Dink’s murder, nobody has been brought to justice
(BIANET/IFEX) – The following is an abbreviated version of a 19 January 2009 BIANET press release: The trial in the murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink started on 2 July 2007 in Istanbul. In the following excerpt, lawyers Fethiye Cetin and Deniz Tuna summarise events at the trial. Two years have passed since Hrant Dink’s […]
Signatories of apology campaign will not be prosecuted
(BIANET/IFEX) – The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has rejected a call to open a case under Article 301 against the apology campaign for events of 1915. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has declined to prosecute people who have signed an Internet campaign apologising to “our Armenian brothers and sisters” for the events of […]
Broadcasters’ premises searched by police; groups concerned about increasing pressure on the press and freedom of expression
(BIANET/IFEX) – The Turkish Journalists’ Trade Union (TGS) and the Contemporary Journalists’ Association (ÇGD) have expressed their worry about violations of basic rights in the Ergenekon investigation. On 22 January 2009 in Ankara, the Avrasya Radio and Television (ART) and Turkish Metal Workers’ Trade Union buildings were searched in the context of (the Ergenekon investigation. […]
Editor faces five years in prison for “revealing information on state security”
(BIANET/IFEX) – Demir, an editor for the Istanbul-based national daily “Taraf”, has been charged with “revealing information on state security”. He could face 5 years behind bars if found guilty by Istanbul’s 13th High Criminal Court. Fikret Secen, the Istanbul prosecutor of the republic, finalised the investigation against Demir, upon the request of the armed […]
Publisher ordered to pay fine instead of going to jail for “defaming and belittling the state”
(BIANET/IFEX) – Fatih Tas, the former owner of Aram Publishers, was charged with “defaming and belittling the state” and sentenced to five months in prison by an Istanbul criminal court for publishing a biography of Nazim Babaoglu, a Kurdish journalist who disappeared while in police custody. The court, however, converted the sentence to a fine […]