Articles by IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet
Mother, supporters of killed student leader acquitted of “praising crime” through battle cry at graveside memorial
(BIANET/IFEX) – Thirty years ago, Ertugrul Karakaya, a leader of the Student Representative Council at the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) in Ankara, was shot dead by gendarmerie on the university campus. Last year, his 73-year-old mother, Ayse Karakya, and 19 other people attending a memorial at his graveside in Salihli were charged with “praising […]
Prosecutor drops criminal charges against journalist who wrote about soldiers’ dissatisfaction
(BIANET/IFEX) – Following a complaint of the General Staff, “Sabah” journalist Umur Talu was investigated for an article in which he had reported on the dissatisfaction of sergeants within the army. Now Istanbul Press Prosecutor Nurten Altinok has decided to drop proceedings against the journalist. In his decision, he said: “(The author) had stated that, […]
Military bans print, broadcast coverage of trial of soldiers previously taken hostage by separatist group
(BIANET/IFEX) – The Gendarmerie Public Order Corps Command Military Court in Van, in southeast Turkey, has put in place a broadcast and print ban concerning the investigation of the eight soldiers taken hostage by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on 21 October 2007 and released two weeks later. The decision was also announced on the […]
Diyarbakir broadcaster harassed over Kurdish-language programming; radio station on trial over song
(BIANET/IFEX) – Gün TV, a local station in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, is the only channel to have broadcast Kurdish programmes for the past year and a half. However, the channel, which is legally allowed to broadcast four hours a week in Kurdish, has faced many difficulties, both over its news and music programmes. Gün Radio-TV […]
Issue of newspaper confiscated for “anti-military” article
(BIANET/IFEX) – The Gaziantep First Criminal Court of Peace has ordered the confiscation of the 32nd issue of the local “Coban Atesi” (Shepherd’s Fire) newspaper after it published journalist Berkant Coslun’s article entitled “Mother, Don’t Send Me to the Army”. The newspaper stands accused of “damaging the public image of military service.” Judge Saban Kaplan […]
MP faces loss of parliamentary immunity for speaking Kurdish
(BIANET/IFEX) – Hamit Geylani, independent Member of Parliament for Hakkari, has protested attempts to have his parliamentary immunity lifted for speaking Kurdish during the election campaign. Geylani says that demands to lift his immunity are based on the fact that he spoke Kurdish at a rally in Yüksekova, Hakkari, before the 22 July 2007 general […]
Editor on trial again for “breaching secrecy”
(BIANET/IFEX) – Faruk Cakir, editor-in-chief of the “Yeni Asya” newspaper, is to be tried for two articles entitled “Council of State to Expand Case” and “Investigation of Council of State is Being Expanded”. He is accused of violating the secrecy of an investigation. Bagcilar Public Prosecutor Ali Cakir has opened a case against Cakir. The […]
Government ban on broadcasts about PKK attack overturned; prime minister criticises decision
(BIANET/IFEX) – The Union of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV) has reacted to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s comments on the decision by the State Council’s 13th Chamber to stop the ban on broadcasts relating to the 21 October 2007 Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attack in Daglica, Hakkari, calling the prime minister’s comments “lacking in legal […]