Articles by PEN International
WiPC expresses concern over imprisoned journalists on hunger strike
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC of International PEN is deeply concerned by the continued imprisonment without charge of numerous independent journalists, ten of whom began a hunger strike on 31 March 2002 to protest their detention. The journalists, who were arrested in the aftermath of the closure of all eight private newspapers on 18 September 2001, have […]
International PEN expresses concern about continuing trial of newspaper editor and journalist
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a 3 April 2002 WiPC letter to President Lukashenko: President Lukashenko Administracia presidenta Respubliki Belarus 220010 Minsk Vul. Karla Marksa 38 Belarus Fax: + 375 17 223 5825/226 0610 3 April 2002 Your Excellency, International PEN, the world association of writers representing members in 95 countries, is concerned about the […]
Poet Yusuf Dzhumaev goes into hiding
(WiPC/IFEX) – Uzbek poet Yusuf Dzhumaev has gone into hiding with his son after receiving a notice that he is to be re-arrested. International PEN is concerned that Dzhumaev is being harassed because of his criticism of the Uzbek authorities. On 23 March 2002, police came to the poet’s Bukhara home with a search warrant […]
Trials of writer and publishers postponed until June
(WiPC/IFEX) – The trials against writer Selma Koçiva and her publisher Muammer Akyüz, and publisher Abdullah Keskin, whose first hearings were held on 3 April 2002, were postponed to second hearings in June. International PEN considers these trials to be in direct breach of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which specifically […]
Two journalists imprisoned for alleged press law violations
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC condemns the sentencing of Lubaba Said and the detention of Melese Shine, both in connection with the alleged contravention of press laws. Said, the former editor-in-chief of “Tarik” newspaper, was sentenced to one year in prison on 3 April 2002. She had been found guilty under the Press Law Proclamation 34/1985 E.C. […]
Writer and publisher of book on the Laz people to appear in court on 3 April
(WiPC/IFEX) – Writer Selma Koçiva and her publisher Muammer Akyüz will stand trial on 3 April 2002 for Koçiva’s book on one of Turkey’s many minority groups. International PEN considers the case against them to be in direct breach of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which specifically protects the right to […]
Journalists and writers face harsh conditions in Turkish prisons
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a WiPC report on conditions in Turkish prisons: Deaths and Ill-treatment in Turkish Prisons March 2002 On 5 March 1999, Suleyman Yeter, Turkish journalist and trade union activist, died while under interrogation by police. He and four other staff of his newspaper, Dayanisma, had been taken to the anti-terrorist branch […]
Report on freedom of expression in Turkey; recently adopted law fails writers
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a WiPC report: Freedom of Expression in Turkey “Mini-democracy Package” Fails Writers March 2002 For over a quarter of a century, Turkey has been among those countries of highest concern to the writers’ association, International PEN. From the mid-1970s through to the end of the 1990s Turkish prisons played host […]