Articles by IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet
Journalist to be tried for “degrading state”
(BIANET/IFEX) – A case in the district town of Gerger, in the province of Adiyaman, southeast of Turkey, illustrates how the Turkish government has been indecisive and contradictory in dealing with freedom of expression. Public Prosecutor Sadullah Ovacikli dismissed a case against journalist Haci Bogatekin, who wrote an article about a flea epidemic, in which […]
Sociologist, magazine owner and editor face possible imprisonment over article; writer escapes charge despite army’s complaint
(BIANET/IFEX) – Sociologist Ismail Besikci, known in Turkey for his enduring academic interest in the Kurds and for facing both an end to his academic career and imprisonment over his books, is on trial under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code. Besikci had written an article entitled “We did not talk, we had it […]
ECHR condemns three rulings against journalists, accepts a fourth
(BIANET/IFEX) – On 14 June 2007, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decreed that freedom of expression was not curtailed in the case of Hünkar Demirel, the manager of the weekly newspaper “Yedinci Gündem”, who appealed to the ECHR after he was convicted of “aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation by spreading propaganda”. Demirel […]
In various legal actions against “Agos” newspaper staff, some acquitted, others still facing charges
(BIANET/IFEX) – Charges against the late editor-in-chief of “Agos” newspaper, Hrant Dink, of “degrading Turkishness” and “attempting to influence the judiciary” were dropped after he was murdered on 19 January 2007. However, on 14 June, prosecutor Mücahit Ercan demanded that Serkis Seropyan, the owner of “Agos”, and the managing editor Arat Dink (Dink’s son) be […]
Journalists, publisher charged under Article 301 for “degrading” army, police in articles; president of foundation acquitted
(BIANET/IFEX) – The trial of journalist and editor Umur Hozatli, who is in court for two articles written in the leftist, pro-Kurdish “Ülkede Özgür Gündem” newspaper, continued on 16 May 2007. Hozatli, former editor-in-chief Irfan Uçar and journalist Sinan Kara are being prosecuted in five cases, all under the controversial Article 301. Awaiting questioning of […]
Journalist and security expert charged for “denigrating armed forces” in article
(BIANET/IFEX) – The weekly magazine “Nokta” was forced to close in April 2007. It now faces a court case under Article 301 for an interview with security expert Lale Sariibrahimoglu and a follow-up article, both of which criticised the involvement of the army in domestic affairs. Ahmet Sik, the reporter who conducted the interview, and […]
Journalist to be retried on technicality for criticising army in 2002 magazine article
(BIANET/IFEX) – The Supreme Court sentenced journalist Emin Karaca to five months in prison, then later to a fine of 900 YTL (approx. US$680), for criticising the army. Now he is to be retried. Karaca wrote an article in the magazine “Yazin”, which appears in Turkey and Europe, remembering the anniversary of the execution of […]
Singer, previously threatened with death, charged over sympathetic speech for guerillas, investigated over article
(BIANET/IFEX) – The Izmir Public Prosecututor’s Office filed a case against artist Ferhat Tunc on allegations of “propagation of the illegal pro-Kurdish guerilla group PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party)”, based on a speech he made during a concert in Alanya last year. “Guerillas who lose their lives are sons of this country just as the soldiers […]