Articles by IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet
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 […]
Court sentences former parliamentarian to 10 years in jail for speeches sympathetic to Kurdistan, imprisoned Kurdish leader
(BIANET/IFEX) – On 4 December 2008, the 5th High Criminal Court of Diyarbakir sentenced Leyla Zana, a former member of the Democracy Party (DEP), to 10 years in prison for “being a member of a terrorist organization” under article 314/2 of the Turkish Penal Code. The court, headed by Judge Dündar Örsdemir, decided that Zana’s […]
Two journalists face lengthy jail sentences over writings about prosecutor
(BIANET/IFEX) – The prosecutor in Gerger, in the southeastern province of Adiyaman, has asked for a sentence of 13 years and two months for journalist Haci Bogatekin, who has already served 109 days in prison for voicing his opinion about Prosecutor Sadullah Ovacikli’s possible close connections to Fethullah Gülen, a well-known Islamic community leader in […]
Court fines newspaper, columnist over disclosure of sensitive information in article
(BIANET/IFEX) – An Ankara civil court has fined “Birgun” newspaper and its columnist, Fikri Saglar, on charges of having attacked the personal rights of former chief of staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, and his wife, Filiz Buyukanit, in a column by Saglar entitled, “Was Buyukanit given a file?” The court accepted the suit for damages in […]
Journalist acquitted of charges of “securing and spreading secret documents”; another investigative journalist faces charges
(BIANET/IFEX) – Nazif Iflasoglu, a reporter from the daily “Radikal”, has been acquitted of the accusation of “securing and spreading secret documents”. He had faced the charges for publishing an article about the strategy of the Follow-Up Committee at the Prime Ministry regarding its fight against the radical Muslim Hizbullah Organization. The journalist published his […]
Journalists’ associations call for removal of accreditation ban put into effect by prime minister’s office
(BIANET/IFEX) – Sultan Özer, a member of the Discipline Committee of the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS) and diplomacy reporter for the daily “Günlük Evrensel”, petitioned the Administrative Court of Ankara for the removal of an accreditation ban put into effect by the Prime Ministry against some journalists. She wants to be allowed to take part […]
Writer, singer sued for allegedly alienating people from military service
(BIANET/IFEX) – In two separate incidents, a writer and transsexual singer are being sued for allegedly alienating people from military service. Writer Cezmi Ersöz, who is facing three years in prison for “alienating people from military service” was to appear before the 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance of Beyglu, Istanbul, on 30 October 2008. […]