Articles by IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet
Three human rights activists receive prison sentences for criticising military operation, prison conditions
(BIANET/IFEX) – Three human rights activists of the Adana branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) have been sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment for criticising the “Return to Life” military operations of December 2000 and the prison conditions of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. The IHD’s Istanbul branch has denounced the ruling. The […]
Historian receives death threat, is harassed by newspaper, for questioning official history
(BIANET/IFEX) – Prof. Dr. Taner Akcam of the history department at Minnesota University, who has consistently described in his work the events of 1915 a “genocide”, fears for his life since receiving death threats over e-mail. Researching the source of the threats, Akcam has found a person with the assumed name “Holdwater”. The “Hürriyet” newspaper […]
Supreme Court affirms earlier court decision to drop case against writer Orhan Pamuk for “degrading Turkishness”
(BIANET/IFEX) – The Supreme Court of Appeals has affirmed the decision of the Sisli 2nd Penal Court to drop the case against writer Orhan Pamuk. Pamuk was prosecuted at the Sisli 2nd Penal Court for “degrading Turkishness” (Article 301), over an interview given to the Swiss weekly “Das Magazin” in February 2005, in which he […]
Two journalists investigated under Article 301
(BIANET/IFEX) – Article 301 continues to haunt journalists in Turkey. Two “Radikal” newspaper journalists, Perihan Magden and Yildirim Türker, are under investigation for “degrading the state’s armed forces”. On 29 June 2007, prosecutor Ali Cakir in Bagcilar, Istanbul, who had conducted an investigation of Magden for an article entitled “State, you are painted all over […]
Student arrested, detained over threatening e-mail to “Agos” newspaper; threats continue
(BIANET/IFEX) – Aris Nalci, news director of the “Agos” weekly newspaper, said although there has been a drop in e-mail threats received by the newspaper, the threats are still continuing. In a recent case, a student identified only as R.D., who is in his last year of high school, has been arrested for sending a […]
Journalist abducted, violently assaulted and threatened with death by police officers
(BIANET/IFEX) – BIANET joins Reporters sans frontières (RSF) in condemning the attack on journalist Sinan Tekpetek of the “Yüzde 52 Öfke” magazine by police. “The attack, carried out by those who are charged with the protection of citizens, is unacceptable. The attackers need to be found,” says BIANET. Tekpetek of the “Özgür Hayat” (“Free Life”) […]
Court orders historian and “Agos” weekly to pay retired ambassador compensation for “violating” his personal rights, “insulting” him
(BIANET/IFEX) – The Ankara 13th Civil Court of First Instance has accepted part of the court case filed by retired ambassador Sükrü Elekdag against the “Agos” weekly newspaper and historian Taner Akcam. Akcam wrote an article entitled “Gündüz Aktan and the Saik Problem in the Genocide”. It was published by “Agos” on 6, 20 and […]
ECHR condemns closure of newspaper, contests conviction of journalist
(BIANET/IFEX) – In a 24 July 2007 decision, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has condemned Turkey for “limiting freedom of expression”, when the “Yedinci Gündem” newspaper was banned in the Emergency Law (OHAL) Regions by the regional governor. The ECHR also criticised the fact that it has not been possible to appeal against […]