On 15 May 1996, writer and journalist Dr Haluk Gerger was sentenced by an Istanbul court to 20 months in prison and fined T 500,000 (approximately US$ 6) for an article published in the 30 June 1995 edition of the leftist daily “Evrensel” on the state of emergency in southeast Turkey. In the same trial, […]
On 15 May 1996, writer and journalist Dr Haluk Gerger was
sentenced by an Istanbul court to 20 months in prison and fined
T 500,000 (approximately US$ 6) for an article published in the
30 June 1995 edition of the leftist daily “Evrensel” on the state
of emergency in southeast Turkey. In the same trial, Fatma Bayer,
the former editor-in-chief of “Evrensel”, was also sentenced to
20 months in prison; however, the sentence was later commuted to
T 3.5 million. They were both sentenced under Article 312 of the
Turkish Penal Code for “inciting the public to enmity against
each other by making regional and racial discrimination.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Fatma Bayer, indicating that they constitute serious violations
of press freedom and freedom of expression
Appeals To
His Excellency Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz
Basbakanlik
06573 Ankara, Turkey
Fax: +90 312 417 0476 or +90 312 230 8896
Ulku Guney
Minister of the Interior
Icisleri Bakanligi
06644 Ankara, Turkey
Fax: +90 312 418 1066 or +90 312 418 1795
Mehmet Agar
Minister of Justice
Adalet Bakanligi
06659 Ankara, Turkey
Fax: +90 312 417 3954
your diplomatic representative in Turkey
the Turkish diplomatic representative in your country
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
