Articles by IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet
Press freedom declining, censorship and auto-censorship on the rise, says BIANET
(BIANET/IFEX) – The following is an abridged 24 July 2007 BIANET press release: General comment: freedom of press Soon, the international press freedom organisation RSF will rank the world’s countries according to their degree of freedom of the press. [. . .] In anticipation of this accounting, one is reminded of many events in Turkey […]
Mass dismissals in five media outlets within two weeks
(BIANET/IFEX) – After the mass dismissal at “Radikal” newspaper, which saw 41 journalists lose their jobs, Turkish journalists have decided to demonstrate to defend the right to be informed and the right to freedom of expression. The rally will take place on 10 July 2007 at 10:00 a.m. (local time), at the Istanbul branch of […]
Another newspaper suspended for remainder of election campaign
(BIANET/IFEX) – After the “Gündem” newspaper was closed for 15 days for “spreading terrorist propaganda”, a court in Istanbul has decided to close the “Güncel” newspaper, which it sees as the continuation of “Gündem”, for 12 days. Mehmet Samur, the editor-in-chief of “Güncel”, said: “Only the company was the same. This is election censorship.” “Gündem” […]
BIANET’s quarterly report documents continuing harassment of, legal action against journalists
(BIANET/IFEX) – The following is a 6 July 2007 BIANET press release: Bianet Publishes Quarterly Media Report The quarterly BIANET report for April to June 2007 reveals that journalists and reporters in Turkey still face harassment and legal consequences for informing the public. Four journalists are awaiting trial under Article 301. The last three months […]
Authorities close “Gündem” newspaper for 15 days following coverage of pre-election opinions
(BIANET/IFEX) – After an article on pre-election opinions in Batman, a south-eastern province, was published in the “Gündem” newspaper on 12 July 2007, an Istanbul penal court has closed the newspaper for 15 days. Cause for the closure was an article published on 12 July (issue no. 132), entitled: “The Batman Message: Stand By the […]
Arrest warrant issued for author facing trial over history book
(BIANET/IFEX) – The 4 July 2007 hearing in the trial of Sirri Ozturk, publisher of Sorun Publishers, and author Osman Tiftikci, author of the book “The evolution of the army from Ottoman Times Until Today”, was postponed. The trial under Article 301, which was brought to court by the General Staff, will continue on 3 […]
Human rights activist receives one-year prison sentence for speaking of “Kurdistan”, faces other legal actions over speeches and interviews
(BIANET/IFEX) – Human rights activist and lawyer Eren Keskin has received a one-year sentence for saying “Turkey has a dirty history” and using the term “Kurdistan”. Keskin, who is also a former president of the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD), faces 13 trials and two investigations for various speeches, articles and interviews. […]
Filtering company briefly blocks BIANET’s website; other political news sites still blocked
(BIANET/IFEX) – A software company in Turkey recently blocked the BIANET website, http://www.bianet.com , acting not on a court order but instead from a list of “forbidden websites” allegedly based on a police list. The discovery was made following readers’ complaints of not being able to access the BIANET website. BIANET is concerned that a […]