Articles by IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet
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 […]
Trial of professors charged with “inciting hatred and hostility” postponed until April, Justice Ministry to decide if case will proceed
(BIANET/IFEX) – The 28th Criminal Court of First Instance of Ankara sent the case file for Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Kaboglu, former head of the Human Rights Advisory Board of the Prime Ministry (BIHDK), and Prof. Dr. Baskin Oran, head of the subcommittee of the same board, to the Ministry of Justice to obtain permission for […]
Kurdish politicians accused of “doing propaganda for a terrorist organization”, face prison sentences
(BIANET/IFEX) – Prosecutor Mustafa Sahin has called for prison sentences for the mayor of Diyarbakir province in eastern Turkey, Osman Baydemir, and the Democratic Society Party (DTP) representative in the province, Nejdet Atalay, for describing the members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as “guerrillas”. The accused say they were simply expressing the pain they […]
Journalist sentenced to one year and three months in prison for opposing imposition of “terrorist” label on Kurdish group
(BIANET/IFEX) – At a press conference held together with his lawyer, Anyt Baba, at the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association, journalist Veysi Sarysozen protested the prison sentence handed down to him for his criticism of the imposition of the “terrorist” label in describing the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The one year plus three […]