Articles by IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet
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 […]
High-school student given suspended sentence for threatening “Agos” newspaper
(BIANET/IFEX) – A 19-year old man has been given a two-year suspended sentence for sending an e-mail threat to the “Agos” newspaper. A court in Sisli, central Istanbul, imposed the sentence on Ridvan Dogan, who sent a threatening e-mail to the “Agos” newspaper after the murder of its editor Hrant Dink, with a two-year suspended […]
Writer sentenced for allegedly “insulting the state security forces” in newspaper article
(BIANET/IFEX) – On 27 September 2007, a penal court in Istanbul decreed that writer and film director Umur Hozatli had “insulted the state security forces in the press” (Article 301/2 of the Turkish Penal Code) and sentenced him to a six-month imprisonment term. This was then reduced to five months, and the sentence was converted […]
Thirty-nine television programmes censored in one month; European Court condemns punishment in two cases as violations of freedom of expression
(BIANET/IFEX) – As the Press Council notes the censorship of various news programmes in the month of September 2007, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) finds fault with Turkish court rulings in the case of two citizens. The General Secretary of the Press Council, Oktay Eksi, has reported on the state of media freedom […]
Journalists harassed, one receives death threat, over coverage of controversial song and Hrant Dink’s murder
(BIANET/IFEX) – Various journalists have become the target of aggressive insinuations and direct threats, including a death threat, due to their coverage of a controversial song and video clip considered to portray the murderers of journalist Hrant Dink as heroes. Nationalist singer Ismail Türüt recorded a song entitled “Plan, don’t make a plan”, composed by […]