Articles by IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet
“Cumhuriyet” newspaper dismisses writer after he criticises draft constitution, urges peaceful resolution of Kurdish conflict, on television
(BIANET/IFEX) – Journalist and writer Erdogan Aydin has been dismissed from the “Cumhuriyet” newspaper after taking part in a discussion programme on Roj television station recently. The programme, broadcast on 23 October 2007, discussed obligatory religious education at school and the appeal of an Alevi citizen to the European Court of Human Rights. (The Alevi […]
Confidentiality of journalists’ sources targeted in ongoing crackdown
(BIANET/IFEX) – The following is a 2 November 2007 BIANET capsule report: Abuse of Journalists’ Confidential Material Recent events at the Northern Iraqi border are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to violations of press freedom. The police and the prosecution have compromised journalists’ sources at least ten times in the past […]
Labour Party politician convicted for allegedly “praising a crime and criminals”
(BIANET/IFEX) – After saying, “The death of soldiers, and the death of Kurdish martyrs pains us”, Tunceli’s Province Chair of the Labour Party (EMEP), Hüseyin Tunc, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, converted into a 1,500 YTL fine (approx. 1,260 US$). Tunc had uttered the words in a speech in Tunceli on 2 September 2006, […]
Student on trial for threatening publisher with death over coverage of Dink killing
(BIANET/IFEX) – Necati Abay, publisher and spokesperson for the Platform of Solidarity with Imprisoned Journalists, wrote an article entitled “Another Journalist Has Been Murdered, the ‘Good Kids’ killed Hrant Dink” shortly after Dink’s murder on 19 January 2007. Following the publication of the article, 20-year-old Mert Sahin threatened him with death. Sahin was then a […]
Three French journalists temporarily detained at border, their equipment confiscated
(BIANET/IFEX) – Three French journalists were arrested and temporarily detained by Turkish authorities as they attempted to enter northern Iraq through the Habur border gate at around 9:00 a.m. (local time) on 24 October 2007. When one of the journalists refused to hand over his camera, he was treated violently. After filming and recording interviews […]
Government censors coverage of PKK attack to allegedly protect “people’s morale and psychology”
(BIANET/IFEX) – The government has cited Article 25 of Law 3984 of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) in order to introduce a broadcasting ban on the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) attacks in the Daglica region of Hakkari in which 13 soldiers died on 21 October 2007. The article is called “Banning of Publications/Broadcasts”. […]
Twelve suspects to face trial in murder of publishing house employees
(BIANET/IFEX) – Twelve suspects, five of whom are in detention, face trial for the 18 April 2007 murder of three employees of a publishing house. Prosecutors are demanding life sentences for the defendants Emre Günaydin, Abuzer Yildirim, Hamit Ceker, Cuma Özdemir and Salih Güler for founding an armed group, for being members of this group […]
Various writers, activists, journalists still facing prosecution under Article 301
(BIANET/IFEX) – Despite pressure from the EU and human rights activists internationally and domestically, the prosecution of journalists, writers and activists under the infamous Article 301 continues. Before the Progress Report of the European Union, EU authorities had called for the abolition of Article 301, and Turkish government officials had signaled that changes were on […]