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Chief Editor /Rédacteur en chef:
Dogan Özgüden - Responsible editor/Editrice responsable:
Inci Tugsavul
| Earlier bulletins / Bulletins précédents |
PRESSIONS SUR LES MEDIAS / PRESSURE ON THE MEDIA
POLITIQUE INTERIEURE / INTERIOR POLICY
QUESTION KURDE / KURDISH QUESTION
MINORITES / MINORITIES
SOCIO-ECONOMIQUE / SOCIO-ECONOMIC
RELATIONS AVEC L'OUEST / RELATIONS WITH THE WEST
RELATIONS REGIONALES / REGIONAL RELATIONS
IMMIGRATION / MIGRATION
BELGIQUE-TURQUIE / BELGIUM-TURKEY
LE TERRORISME DE L'ETAT / STATE TERRORISM
19 décembre: Un anniversaire sanglant!
"Environ 1000 prisonniers politiques dans toutes les prisons turques ont entamé une grève de la faim illimitée le 20 octobre 2000. Après 30 jours, elle est devenue une grève de la faim jusqu'à la mort. Les prisonniers protestaient contre le plan du Gouvernement prévoyant leur transfert forcé dans des prisons à cellule d'isolement dite de 'type F' ainsi que contre les tortures, la répression et la législation prétendument antiterroriste de l'Etat turc qui bafoue les règles démocratiques minimales.
Le Comité genevois contre la répression en Turquie disait ainsi dans son communiqué de presse à l'occasion de l'assault sanglant du 19 décembre 2000.
"Le 19 décembre 2000 à 4h30 le gouvernement turc ordonnait l'attaque de vingt prisons. Elles furent investies par l'armée, les forces spéciales de gendarmerie (10 000 hommes!) en utilisant des bombes à gaz, des fusils d'assaut, des bombes incendiaires ainsi que des bulldozers pour réprimer et massacrer les prisonniers politiques. Après l'opération du gouvernement turc, on comptait 28 morts et des centaines des blessés graves. Après cette attaque environ 1500 prisonniers politiques ont été transférés dans des cellules d'isolement de Type F
"Malgré tout, la grève de la faim a continué dans les prisons cellulaires, dans les hôpitaux ainsi que dans des familles qui soutiennent les prisonniers politiques à l'extérieur en participant à cette grève.
"Aujourd'hui, 82 personnes sont mortes dans le cadre de cette grève de la faim, dans et hors des prisons 200 personnes environ sont soit au bord de la mort, soit dans des états physiques et mentaux gravement détériorés. (selon l'Organisation mondiale contre la torture).
"Face à l'urgence de la situation, au refus de négocier du gouvernement turc, à la répression et aux fins de non recevoir qui ont accueilli les tentatives de médiation et d'intervention des organisations de défenses des droits de l'Homme, notre comité appelle tous les démocrates, à se remobiliser pour mettre fin à une situation intolérable!"
Le Comité a le soutien des organisations ou associations suivantes: Alliance de Gauche, solidarité , PdT, Les Socialistes, Les Verts, attac-ge, Centre Europe Tiers Monde (CETIM), Maison populaire de Genève,Comité de solidarizté avec les prisonnierfs politiques, Groupe pour une Suisse sans Armée (GSsA), Syndicat Suisse du Service Public SSP/Vpo Assoc.Amis du Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour l'Amitié entre les Peuples. Adresse contact:CP 1141 1211 Genève 1 Tél:022-328 92 82 Fax:328 92 83 e-mail: assmp@bluewin.ch
Arrestations au premier anniversaire de l'assaut
La police turque a arrêté mercredi 25 manifestants venus marquer le premier anniversaire de l'intervention des forces de sécurité dans les prisons pour mettre un terme à une grève de la faim observée par des centaines de détenus, a annoncé l'agence de presse Anatolie.
Les manifestants entendaient déposer des oeillets à l'entrée de la prison Bayrampasa, l'une des nombreuses maisons d'arrêt visées par la reprise en main en décembre 2000, mais ont été empêchées de s'en approcher par la police.
Après une brève déclaration à la presse dénonçant l'opération dans les prisons, les manifestants ont jeté les fleurs en direction du centre de détention et scandé des slogans.
La police est alors intervenue contre le groupe qui refusait de se disperser et a procédé à l'arrestation de quelque 25 personnes, rapporte l'agence.
Une grève de la faim a été déclenchée en octobre 2000 pour protester contre l'inauguration de nouvelles prisons avec des cellules pour trois personnes à la place des dortoirs des anciens établissements qui, selon les détenus, les rendent plus vulnérables aux mauvais traitements.
Ce mouvement a entraîné au total la mort de 80 détenus ou leurs proches, dont 30 prisonniers tués lors d'un assaut de la police en décembre 2000 pour briser la grève, au cours duquel deux gendarmes avaient été tués.
Au total 170 prisonniers poursuivent actuellement le mouvement. (AFP, 19 décembre 2001)
Les prisons turques de type F dans le collimateur du CPT
Le Comité anti-torture (CPT) du Conseil de l'Europe a sévèrement critiqué l'intervention "peu appropriée" de la gendarmerie contre les émeutes dans les prisons turques fin 2000, dans un rapport publié mercredi à Strasbourg avec l'accord d'Ankara.
Le CPT est allé à quatre reprises en Turquie en décembre 2000 et en janvier, avril et mai 2001, pour enquêter sur les méthodes employées pour réprimer les émeutes, sur les grèves de la faim contre les nouvelles prisons de type F, ainsi que sur la situation des détenus récemment transférés dans ces prisons.
Le gouvernement turc avait récemment annoncé son accord pour la publication de tous les rapports du CPT, en témoignage de sa volonté de transparence et de coopération avec le Conseil de l'Europe.
Le CPT demande à Ankara toutes les vidéos et autres témoignage permettant d'éclaircir les conditions dans lesquelles six femmes, détenues dans un dortoir de la prison de Bayeampasa, étaient mortes, certaines brûlées, le 19 décembre 2000, lors d'un assaut des gendarmes. Ce jour-là, les forces de l'ordre étaient intervenues simultanément dans 20 prisons où avaient lieu des grèves de la faim, faisant 32 morts et de nombreux blessés.
Le CPT demande aussi aux autorités turques des précisions sur les gaz lacrymogènes utilisés lors des interventions, de nombreux prisonniers ayant affirmé que les gendarmes avaient fait usage de gaz entraînant une perte de contrôle temporaire des mouvements.
Il s'étonne aussi du nombre important de personnes décédées soit à la suite d'une blessure provoquée par une balle (huit prisonniers et deux gendarmes) soit à la suite d'un tir de grenade, demandant si les munitions utilisées étaient bien appropriées en l'occurence.
Le CPT s'inquiète aussi du "nombre considérable" de prisonniers qui se plaignent d'avoir subi des mauvais traitements lors de leur admission dans des prisons de type F, à Kocaeli ou Sincan notamment.
En outre, plusieurs prisonniers se sont plaints d'avoir été obligés de se raser la barbe et les cheveux, un traitement humiliant, selon eux, des méthodes de fouille corporelle allant jusqu'à des touchers anaux ou d'avoir été sèvèrement battus, lors de leur admission.
Le CPT critique enfin l'isolement dans lequel sont maintenus certains détenus pendant des périodes allant jusqu'à six mois d'affilée.
172 détenus observent toujours une grève de la faim "à mort" à l'intérieur des prisons de type F, 6 autres personnes suivent le même jeûne total dans des maisons privées et 14 détenus font une grève de la faim "tournante" dans des établissements pénitentiaires classiques, selon l'Association turque des droits de l'Homme (IHD).
Ce mouvement s'est soldé par la mort de 42 détenus ou leurs proches décédés des suites de leur privation, de 4 autres qui se sont immolés par le feu lors d'une intervention de la police, de 4 autres tués lors d'une opération de police contre la maison où ils jeûnaient, ainsi que de 30 prisonniers et de deux gendarmes lors d'un assaut dans les prisons en décembre dernier, soit en tout 80 personnes. (AFP, 12 décembre 2001)
HRW déplore le peu de progrès pour les droits de l'homme
L'organisation de défense des droits de l'homme Human Rights Watch (HRW) a critiqué vendredi le peu de progrès réalisés par la Turquie, candidate à l'Union européenne (UE), dans le domaine des droits de l'homme, indiquant que la torture existait encore dans le pays.
"Depuis que la Turquie a été déclarée officiellement candidate à l'UE il y a deux ans, nous n'avons vu que des mesures superficielles et des demi-mesures", a indiqué Elizabeth Andersen, du département d'Europe et d'Asie Centrale de l'organisation, dans un communiqué dont l'AFP a obtenu une copie.
Tout en saluant les nouveaux engagements du gouvernement turc dans le domaine des droits de l'homme, Mme Andersen a déploré le fait que la "torture reste pratiquée et la liberté d'expression est sérieusement limitée".
"Il n'y a pas de changement significatif jusqu'à maintenant, juste du vernis", souligne le document.
Le communiqué souligne en outre le "rôle obstructionniste" joué par les militaires en Turquie et demande que des représentants de l'armée prennent part aux consultations entre l'UE et le gouvernement turc.
Le Conseil national de sécurité (MGK), dominé par l'armée, réunit chaque mois les plus hauts responsables civils et militaires et trace les grandes lignes de conduite du pays.
La Turquie n'a pas encore ouvert de négociations d'adhésion avec l'UE, car elle doit auparavant respecter les critères de Copenhague sur les droits de l'homme et la démocratie.
La mesure la plus sérieuse prise jusqu'ici pour promouvoir sa candidature a été une série d'amendements à la constitution, largement dictée par l'armée après le putsch de 1980.
Ces réformes ne correspondent pas vraiment aux normes de l'UE. La peine de mort a été abolie, mais pas en temps de guerre et pour des crimes terroristes, ce qui démarque toujours la Turquie des pays de l'UE.
Une autre modification ouvre la voie à un plus large usage de leur langue par les Kurdes dans les médias et l'édition, mais ce droit peut être restreint pour protéger la sécurité nationale et l'indivisibilité de l'Etat et la nation turque. (AFP, 14 décembre 2001)
Full text of the HRW 2001 Report on Turkey
The report on Turkey, its fourth (including the Progress Reports that pre-dated Turkey's formal candidacy), has become an important annual measure of progress on the political elements of the Copenhagen Criteria for membership, which require "stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and respect for and protection of minorities." Unfortunately the 2001 report records little more than superficial signs of reform on these issues. A look beneath the surface suggests that there can be no meaningful progress on Turkey's candidacy until the Turkish military becomes unequivocally and transparently engaged in the process.
The report on Turkey, its fourth (including the Progress Reports that pre-dated Turkey's formal candidacy), has become an important annual measure of progress on the political elements of the Copenhagen Criteria for membership, which require "stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and respect for and protection of minorities." Unfortunately the 2001 report records little more than superficial signs of reform on these issues. A look beneath the surface suggests that there can be no meaningful progress on Turkey's candidacy until the Turkish military becomes unequivocally and transparently engaged in the process.
The announcement in 1999 of Turkey's formal candidacy for E.U. membership created an important opportunity for change. Nonetheless, close observers of the process argued that only a detailed and fully transparent human rights dialogue could dispel mutual suspicions and produce meaningful reform in the context of the accession process. Any other approach would be susceptible to the kind of half-way measures and empty initiatives that successive Turkish governments have repeatedly improvised to placate critics while quietly permitting abuses to continue.
On this score, the E.U. Accession Partnership document adopted in late 2000 was a disappointment. Sometimes described as a "road-map for reform," the Accession Partnership document was vague and omitted significant elements of reform needed to bring Turkey in line with European and international standards. The Turkish government's National Plan for accession, adopted in March 2001 in response to the E.U. Accession Partnership document, exploited all of the gaps in the E.U. document and attempted to bargain down the E.U.'s human rights demands.
In a welcome development, the European Commission's recently published 2001 Regular Report offers a more clear and useful map for Turkey. It shows how little distance has been travelled on what remains a very long road. The general picture presented in the 2001 Regular Report is accurate, and so too, for the most part, is the detail. It gives an authentic flavor of what some Turkish citizens are having to endure: economic hardship and corruption; torture and ill-treatment in police custody; excessive and arbitrary restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and assembly; and repression of cultural and language rights.
The report fairly documents positive steps that the Turkish government has taken on paper, but consistently balances this with an assessment of what is happening in practice. On freedom of expression and cultural rights, for example, the report lists the constitutional reforms that ease restrictions on publication in languages other than Turkish, and it mentions a culture and arts festival in Diyarbakir that included a panel discussion on multiculturalism-but it also records the prosecutions, confiscations, broadcasting bans and imprisonments that demonstrate there has been no general change of heart on the part of the authorities. The report rather boldly notes that many of those jailed for membership or support of armed opposition groups are actually imprisoned for "crimes connected to freedom of expression," and it describes how the "cumbersome" law on association is trammeling the development of civil society. To illustrate the harassment and intimidation of human rights organizations, it mentions a police raid on a treatment center for torture victims and official efforts to shut it down.
On a number of points, however, the report does fall short. For example, there is insufficient emphasis placed on the need to end incommunicado detention, although both the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture have said its abolition was the single most important step necessary to bring an end to the systematic use of torture in Turkey. The Turkish state is determined to postpone the day when lawyers will be going in and out of police stations and gendarmeries as part of their normal business, dramatically altering the way criminal justice is administered in Turkey. The E.U., perhaps because some E.U. member states still use incommunicado detention themselves, do not address the Turkish government, police, and gendarmerie sufficiently seriously on this point.
In the same vein, E.U. members states' own unsteady performance on the rights of students and civil servants to wear the headscarf may explain why Turkey's exclusion of thousands of women from higher education has not been tackled in the Regular Report. And the omission of the right to conscientious objection may be explained by Greece's continued shortcomings in this area.
The report does not describe how the Higher Education Council (YÖK), a creature of the 1980 military junta, restricts academic freedom. It is also disappointing in its treatment of progress toward the return home for the 250,000 villagers, mainly Kurdish, who gendarmes forced out of their homes in the early 1990s. The report repeats government statistics on the rate of return, apparently without checking those against the facts on the ground. Human Rights Watch investigations suggest that the government village return program is largely fictional and most abandoned settlements remain no-go areas, in some cases occupied by government-armed village guards.
The Commission charitably cushions depressing facts with optimistic hopes, perhaps in order to avoid worsening the economic crisis into which the Turkish government plunged itself in February. The Regular Report makes as much as it can of the amendments to Turkey's constitution adopted in October, although the regular reports are supposed to measure progress up to September 30, 2001 and not take into account legislation or measures planned or in preparation. The Turkish government is fortunate that those preparing the report bent those rules because, apart from the constitutional changes (which have yet to be cast into new legislation), the government has almost nothing to show for the past twelve months. In the area of fundamental rights, the main elements of the constitutional changes were abolition of the death penalty for common criminal offences and a shortening of the maximum incommunicado detention period from seven to four days (though detention periods will still be extended in the four southeastern provinces under emergency rule). But even these measures fell short of the mark. Full peacetime abolition of the death penalty is the European standard, and, as mentioned above, to bring an end to torture in Turkey, the complete abolition of incommunicado detention should be the goal.
The Regular Report's general assessment that "compared to last year, the situation on the ground has hardly improved" looks very much like the assessment from last year-and the year before that. As a "road-map" the report shows that Turkey has made very little progress at all. The picture is certainly much better than it was in the years of armed conflict in the southeast between 1991 and 1995, but it is still very bad. In 2001 two Kurdish politicians "disappeared," the largest parliamentary political party, Virtue, was shut down, civilians were imprisoned by military courts and writers by State Security Courts. Women, including a police rape victim, who organized a conference on sexual assault in custody were put on trial for "insulting the State authorities," and human rights defenders were charged with terrorist offences because they reported on a prison crisis that has claimed more than seventy lives. As the Report says, "the situation as regards torture and mistreatment has not improved since the last Regular Report and still gives serious grounds for concern." In fact, the Turkish Human Rights Association has reported an increase in reports of torture in the past year, and children are among the victims.
While the reforms that really count are not being tackled, tinsel and varnish are being applied to give the impression that the government is on the case. The proliferation of dubious "human rights" institutions is a case in point. The Report mentions the law of October 2000 that installed a Human Rights Presidency, a High Human Rights Board, Human Rights Consultation Boards, and the Human Rights Investigation Boards. For a decade successive Turkish governments have been fiddling about setting up such human rights institutions, one or two highly effective, but most of them useless
The Turkish government is gridlocked over the European project and the fundamental reforms that it necessitates. The extreme right wing partner in the ruling coalition, the National Action Party (MHP), opposes several of the key reforms contained in the Accession Partnership document, particularly an expansion of cultural and language rights for Turkey's minorities. Those in the government who want to see progress in order to further the E.U. candidacy cannot move for fear of a counterattack from the military, which regularly repeats that it is ready to intervene in politics, and has potentially devastating power to mobilise the press and media against any politician who challenges them. On some issues, such as incommunicado detention, the opposition to change arises from straightforward institutional self-interest and fear of change. But with respect to the issues that are simultaneously most fundamental to European democracy and difficult in Turkey-freedom of expression and language and cultural rights-the military and the MHP believe that the restrictions they defend are appropriate cautionary measures against forces (religion- and ethnic-based politics) that they fear could tear the country apart.
The 2000 Regular Report published a year ago mentioned that "a positive development since the last regular report is the launching in Turkish society of a wide-ranging debate on the political reforms necessary for accession to the EU." In fact, a full, free and public discussion of Turkey's European project has not happened yet, and cannot happen while restrictions on freedom of expression remain in place.
Discussion of European integration is tightly constrained in Turkey, particularly when it comes to the implications that Turkey's bid for E.U. membership must have for the roles of ethnicity, religion and the military in the public and political sphere. One can write and speak about almost anything in Turkey, but writing or saying the wrong thing about these topics can bring prosecution and imprisonment (under article 312 for incitement to religious or racial hatred, or under article 159 for insulting the military). Many journalists and politicians have faced charges for breaking taboos. Last year three party leaders were prosecuted and convicted under article 312, and one served a term of imprisonment. For many there are consequences more permanently inhibiting than imprisonment. For the media, overstepping the chalk line on these issues can be very expensive, racking up fines and legal fees. Newspapers are confiscated and television broadcasting suspended. Such penalties are meted out almost every day. For politicians, the risks are even higher: a misjudged phrase can end your career because a conviction also means loss of political rights, specifically, a prohibition on founding or joining a party or standing for election.
The public debating chamber is ring-fenced by article 312 and the other constraints on freedom of expression. Yet in the privacy of the National Security Council (a body established by the post-coup constitution), the military is uniquely free to express its views to leading ministers and president; the military chiefs' role in the council is theoretically "advisory," but their influence is widely regarded as overriding. Chief of Staff of the Turkish armed forces General Kivrikoglu, on October 29, made the peculiar boast that behind the closed doors of the NSC meetings, where soldiers wear civilian clothes, there is "real democracy . Everyone is free to say what they want. Article 312 does not apply." This is what one retired general described as "military democracy," and begs the question: why shouldn't ordinary Turkish people have the same right to discuss their future?
General Kivrikoglu went on to say that as long as there was "reactionary danger," coded language for the threat of religion in politics, the military would be ready "for a thousand years" to intervene in politics, as they have four times since 1960. There can be little confidence in the stability of democracy and law, while the military openly threatens democratically elected politicians in this way.
The Regular Report gives news of what, under other circumstances, would be an impressive list of valuable human rights gains: planned accession to the Ottawa convention on landmines, signature of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and signature of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. But it is impossible to give wholehearted credit while there is a yawning gap in the middle of the program.
The main message of the 2001 Regular Report is that Turkey has not yet fully committed to undertake the kind of meaningful reform that could bridge that gap and make its candidacy truly viable. A profound conflict within the political and military establishment over the European project is clearly getting in the way of needed reform. Unless this conflict is addressed and resolved, it can be expected that the Turkish government will spend one more year improvising cosmetic measures to embellish its human rights record to brighten up another disappointing regular report.
The implications of European integration need to be discussed and accepted in Turkey. But where can this conversation take place? The NSC discussions, free ranging according to General Kivrikoglu, are closed to the public. When Mesut Yilmaz, the deputy prime minister responsible for the accession process, has tried to open up the issues he has repeatedly been slapped down by the military. When the magazine Idea Politika asked the question "What is the army for?" in its fall issue, the magazine was confiscated at the demand of the military and the author subjected to a criminal investigation. Columnists and politicians are inhibited by the heavy potential cost of asking the wrong questions. The High Council for Radio and Television has temporarily or permanently suspended scores of independent broadcasters and in August banned BBC World Service and Deutsche Welle on the grounds that they "threatened national security."
The E.U. may be able to ease things forward. So far, the E.U. has been discussing Turkey's candidacy almost exclusively with the Turkish government, even though it appears that the military will have a say in the decisions that lie ahead. Perhaps it is time to see that the military takes part in the E.U. dialogue with the Turkish government. If the E.U. decides to make such an overture, the General Staff may try to be coy and pretend that they are not mandated to discuss foreign policy. This would be disingenuous, since agendas of past NSC meetings have covered international affairs as well as the economy, education, corruption, the media and much besides.
The E.U. should ask that the government include the military in a discussion of how the Copenhagen Criteria can be met without risking the instability the military and nationalist politicians fear. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, when the E.U. is itself grappling with the appropriate balance between security and civil liberties, it is well placed to engage Turkey on the same issues. The discussion should examine whether fundamental freedoms are restricted in Turkey due to legitimate security concerns or mere institutional conservatism or self-interest. It should address the extent to which restrictions on democratic freedoms may do more to fuel instability than quell it. This forum should be as open and transparent as diplomacy can possibly admit. Once these parties are talking, it will not be long before the Turkish public joins the conversation. If it is truly unfettered, this conversation would itself be an important step in the right direction. (HRW, December 14, 2001)
L'OMCT condamne l'impunité et le manque de réforme
L'Organisation mondiale contre la torture (OMCT) a condamné mardi, un an après les émeutes et l'intervention des forces de sécurité dans les prisons turques, l'impunité des responsables d'actes de torture et l'absence d'une réforme judiciaire effective.
Cette ONG, basée à Genève, a dénoncé dans un communiqué les opérations menées depuis le 19 décembre 2000 par les forces de sécurité en dehors des prisons et qui visaient des grévistes de la faim solidaires des détenus. Elle mentionne en particulier l'intervention en novembre de la police dans des maisons du quartier de Kuçukarmatlu à Istanbul, provoquant la mort de quatre personnes.
"Il est très important que les autorités turques publient rapidement les résultats de toute enquête complète, impartiale et effective sur ces interventions des forces de sécurité depuis le 19 décembre, comme l'a demandé le Comité anti-torture du Conseil de l'Europe depuis janvier, et qu'elles supervisent les réformes pénales et carcérales dans le respect des normes européennes et internationales", affirme l'OMCT.
Jusqu'à l'annonce tardive, le mois dernier, par le bureau du procureur général de Turquie d'une enquête sur l'intervention dans les prisons et les mauvais traitements, l'Etat turc a préféré lancer des investigations sur les détenus plutôt que sur le comportement de ses forces de sécurité, selon l'organisation humanitaire.
L'OMCT demande que le droit des détenus aux programmes d'activités communes dans les nouvelles prisons de type F soit assuré, en soulignant que restreindre un tel accès met en jeu leur santé physique et mentale et accroît les risques de torture dans les cellules d'isolement. (AFP, 19 décembre 2001)
Police Custody Periods are Unconstitutional
Lawyers in Diyarbakir have revealed that Decree 430, which was enacted in 1990 to allow longer custodial periods in state of emergency regions (OHAL), is again being used despite such periods having been restricted to a maxi-mum of 4 days by constitutional reforms. In Diyarbakir there are people who have been held by the gendarme secret service JITEM for more than 1 month. It has been revealed that there have also been forced statements against HADEP, IHD and prisoners family associations.
Such measures, against which the regional lawyer's associations have severely protested, have been persistently pursued for the past 34 days. Emrullah Karagöz, Mustafa Yasar (34 days), Fehmi Ak, Veysi Gümüs and Remziye Dag (24 days), Hatip Alay (14 days) have all been taken from prison by the JITEM for questioning.
The lawyer Tahir Elci has taken on the cases of the imprisoned students Emrullah Karagöz and Mustafa Yasar. Both men were arrested on 28.10.2001. On 1.11.2001 Diyarbakir's SSG ordered a 10-day extension to their detention. Following a further 10-day extension the students were then detained on remand on 21.11.2001. A request from the governor for a further 10-day extension to allow the students to be questioned was initially turned down by the courts but then accepted following an appeal by the state prosecutor.
The lawyer Irfan Eser said, on the state of health of his client, Mustafa Yasar, "My client is unable to stand. His whole body shivers and has problems speaking. He is extremely tense. Even breathing is difficult for him. His clothes were ripped and he has lost a lot of weight. They have got him to sign statements against HADEP, IHD and THAYDER while he was blindfolded."
The length of detention in police custody for Emrullah Karagöz and Mustafa Yasar has now exceed a total 44 days. An application for a fifth 10-day extension for police custody was rejected by the SSG in Diyarbakir.
"Do something so that they don't take me there again". These words were spoken by the 60-year-old Remiziye Dag who had been held by JITEM for 24 days. She was also taken on 26.11.2001 to Diyarbakir's prison to obtain authorisation for an extension for her detention for questioning. Her lawyer Ayla Akat was then able to speak with her there. According to Akat her client was suffering from high blood pressure and heart problems. Because of her illness her client had been subjected to less violence. Remziye Dag told her, "Don't ask me anything else. In the first 10 days with JITEM they asked me 2 questions. These questions included the names of people. I said that I did not know them. We sat blindfolded with 6 other people in a cell. Do something so that they don't take me there again". Her lawyer also said that traces of blood could be seen on her shawl.
The lawyer Cihan Aydin let it be known that he would be calling on the European Court for Human Rights to deal immediately with the cases of Mustafa Yasar and Remziye Dag.
Fehim Ak, who had been held for a further 10 days in custody after having been arrested, had his detention again extended by 10 days following an application by the DGM state prosecutor. (IMK Weekly Information Service, 01 December - 20 December 2001)
262 Deaths in Custody between 1995 and 2000
Interior Minister Rüstü Kazim Yücel announced that between 1995 and 2000 a total of 62 people had died in police custody due to various reasons. Some had committed suicide and others had died because of illness.
The Minister claimed that the percentage of suicides in custody was below the percentage of suicides in society. On the death of the alleged DHKP/C member Yunus Güzel, who had been detained on 16 October he said: "On 23 October, when he was about to be taken to the prosecutor, he hanged himself with his bed linen, fixed to the bed that he had erected at the wall. The method is called "half hanging" and suicides are possible this way. This has been established by the state secretaries looking into the case and the prosecutor in Fatih district."
The Minister stated that between 1995 and 2000 a total of 16,021 people had committed suicide in the country and considering the fact that during the same time 1,640,070 people were detained the percentage is 0.025% to 0.003%. (Radikal-TIHV, December 4, 2001)
IHD Branch raided by police in Bingol
The police raided the HRA Bingöl Branch in the morning of 30 November 2001 and confiscated effects of the Branch, application forms by victims of human rights violence in the province, monthly reports, HRA Headquarter bulletins and press statements of the Head of the Branch.
In addition, personnel and Mr. Ridvan Kizgin, the Head of the Branch were threatened and insulted by the police who attempted to take Mr. Kizgin and other two personnel, Ms Fadime Becerikli and Sabih Arslan, under custody but later gave up. Mr. Ridvan Kizgin was also presented a statement signed by the Governor of Bingöl dated 30 November 2001 concerning the suspension from chairmanship from the Branch.
This raid is related to an event which was taken place on 25 November 2001, the international day on fight against violence towards women. During the training programme on Women and Violence organised by Members of the Women Committee of the Branch, Head of the Security Branch of the Bingöl Directorate for Security together with a police commissioner and two policemen came to the Branch building and wanted to follow the meeting and to videotape the meeting.
The Head of HRA Branch reacted to them asserting that the meeting as it was only for members of the HRA and not open for public could not be regarded in the context of the law No:2911 related to organising meetings and demonstrations. The police held a false statement claiming that the Head of the Branch showed resistance not to teke theim in the Association premises.
Bingöl Branch of the Human Rights Association has been raided four times since 12 April 2001, the day the Branch was opened officially. On the raid of 17 October 2001, the Association seal was confiscated, which made the Association unable to collect membership fees and donations. Recently, the Human Rights Association with the invaluable assistance of Bingöl Branch establishes reports on human rights violences in Böngöl province and make those violences public at both national and international level.
It has been understood that local authorities, especially the Governor's office and security directorate of Bingöl, by using legal, financial and de facto pressures to silence HRA in Bingöl instead of taking measures to stamp out violence. We urge you to keep in solidarity with the Human Rights Association. We shall continue to keep you updated on developments.(IHD, 7 December 2001)
Manisa Torture policemen missing
The ten policemen who are defendants in the 'torturing of minors in custody in Manisa province' case are trying to get off the hook thanks to the statute of limitations. They have been 'missing' for six months. Put on trial for the fourth time, they cannot be found at their addresses by officials who attempt to take a statement from them.
Sema Pekdas, the lawyer representing the minors, says the defendants are still being protected. She says, 'This is a wrong reflex. This resistance stems from the following logic: My policemen are all good. They cannot engage in maltreament in any way. Even if they subject anybody to maltreatment they do it only to those who deserve it. As long as we cannot overcome this reflex no results can be obtained.'
The policemen were acquitted by a local criminal court in 1998. The Court of Cassation overturned the verdict. The local court persisted in its decision. The Court of Cassation overturned the verdict once again. And then the local court sentenced the policemen to prison, but the Court of Cassation overturned that verdict too, saying that the defendants had not been able to exercise their right to defense properly."(Cumhuriyet, December 9, 2001)
Le règlement amiable à Strasbourg
Le gouvernement turc a choisi d'indemniser par règlement amiable deux personnes soupçonnées d'appartenir au PKK et victimes de mauvais traitements en garde à vue, selon un arrêt rendu mardi à Strasbourg par la Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme.
Dans une déclaration jointe à l'arrêt, Ankara "regrette la survenance, comme en l'espèce, de cas individuels de mauvais traitements infligés par les autorités à des personnes en garde à vue", malgré "la législation turque existante et la détermination du gouvernement à empêcher de tels incidents".
Il s'engage en outre "à édicter des instructions appropriées et à adopter toutes les mesures nécessaires pour garantir que l'interdiction de pareilles formes de mauvais traitements - qui implique l'obligation de mener des enquêtes effectives - soient respectées à l'avenir".
L'une des victimes, Nimet Acar, recevra une indemnité globale de 28.660 euros (188.000 F), l'autre, Kemal Gundu, de 29.118 euros (191.000 F).
Les deux hommes avaient été arrêtés en février 1994 à Istanbul en même temps qu'une quarantaine de suspects. Ils ont affirmé avoir livré sous la torture des aveux sur leurs liens avec l'organisation séparatiste kurde du PKK.
Les deux requérants se sont plaints d'avoir subi notamment "des coups, des pendaisons, des électrocutions, des bastonnades sur la plante des pieds, des écrasements de cigarettes sur le corps", ce que les certificats médicaux ont partiellement confirmé.
Les policiers impliqués avaient été déclarés non coupables. (AFP, 18 décembre 2001)
La coopération contre le terrorisme en Europe du sud-est
Les pays de l'Europe du sud-est ont décidé de renforcer leur coopération dans la lutte contre le terrorisme après les attentats du 11 septembre aux Etats-Unis, au terme d'une réunion annuelle jeudi des ministres de la Défense à Antalya (sud, sur la Méditerranée).
"Le terrorisme a constitué une partie importante de notre ordre du jour à la lumière des récents attentats terroristes aux Etats-Unis", a indiqué le ministre turc de la Défense Sabahattin Cakmakoglu qui a annoncé lors d'une conférence de presse les conclusions de la réunion.
Onze pays, la Turquie, la Grèce, l'Albanie, la Bulgarie, la Macédoine,
la Croatie, l'Italie, la Roumanie, la Slovénie, l'Ukraine et les
Etats-Unis, ont participé avec leur ministre de la Défense
ou leur vice-ministre à la réunion d'Antalya, la sixième
du genre depuis 1996.
Un comité de travail sur la lutte contre le terrorisme
va ainsi être créé, a dit M. Cakmakoglu.
"Les attentats aux Etats-Unis ont constitué un sévère avertissement aux pays européens concernant la lutte antiterroriste", a-t-il ajouté.
Interrogé sur un éventuel envoi de soldats turcs en Afghanistan dans le cadre d'une force de paix internationale, M. Cakmakoglu a réaffirmé que la Turquie, seul pays musulman de l'Otan, allait dépêcher des troupes dans ce pays, mais que les modalités n'avaient pas encore été déterminées.
Le secrétaire (ministre) adjoint américain à la Défense, responsable des affaires de sécurité internationale, Jack D. Crouch, a pour sa part précisé en réponse à une question que la campagne antiterroriste de son pays visait à éliminer le réseau al-Qaïda de l'extrémiste Oussama ben Laden, commanditaire présumé des attentats du 11 septembre, et laissé entrevoir une possible extension des opérations militaires dans d'autres pays.
"Al-Qaïda opère au moins dans une douzaine de pays, notre campagne vise à l'éliminer et punir ses responsables", a-t-il dit, réaffirmant ainsi la position de son pays.
Outre le terrorisme, les discussions ont également porté sur la prévention de la prolifération des armes de destruction massive et les activités de la Force multinationale de paix dans le sud-est de l'Europe (FMPSEE), créée en 1999 et opérationnelle depuis mai dernier. (AFP, 20 décembre 2001)
"Culture of violence" according to a MHP chief
"Even if Turkey fulfilled all the EU-criteria, we would still carry on torturing", said the deputy head of the right wing Turkish governing party MHP, Sevket Bülent Yahnici. "Torture has become a part of our nature". Human rights activists agree entirely with the Europe-critical MHP politician: there is a culture of violence in Turkey which is down played and defended by the government. Yahnici, like other party colleagues, reacted angrily to a law proposal from justice minister Türk extending rights to freedom of opinion as part of a programme towards EU conformity.
At a press conference Yahnici gave a typical example of the manner in which the authorities deal with torture. He recalled that the government had strengthened the ban on torture in paragraph § 243 of the Turkish penal code but "then the chief of police came to the judicial committee and said, 'give amnesty to all my people who were convicted under § 243'". In other words, torturers are not punished but rather protected by their superiors.
Yahnici's frank outburst on torture practice goes no way to making him a friend of Europe nor an advocate for any major reforms. On the contrary, the nationalist politician accuses the EU of requesting the impossible from Turkey and for making similar demands as the Kurdish rebels of the PKK. Yahnici's bluntness does however bring a rare atmosphere of openness to a sensitive issue which is usually hushed up by others in Ankara. Turks are used to their representatives in government stating that there is no systematic torture. (Cumhuriyet-IMK, December 12, 2001)
Attacks by MHP supporters in Gaziantep
Three students from Gaziantep University, who did not want their names to be disclosed, alleged that the violence by the supporters of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) had increased during the month of Ramadan. Students with long hair and earrings had become the target as well as students, who did not fast during Ramadan. In an official complaint to the public prosecutor in Antep they stated: "On 3 December at 3pm we drank tea in the cafeteria, when a group of 40 people armed with sticks, knifes and iron pipes forced us into the woods. They took our phones away and threatened to cut off our heads if we did not cut our hair. Security staff from the university rescued us and handed the arms over to the person running the cafeteria by the name of Ayhan." (Cumhuriyet-TIHV, December 5, 2001)
Attacks by MHP Followers in Ankara
On 7 December students close to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) stormed the cafeteria of the Faculty for Natural Sciences at Ankara University. Some 150 of them attacked students eating there with sticks of nails and choppers. During the incident the students Akman Kirmizitas, Ismail Dilek, Ufuk Genel, Gonca Çapraz, Tolga Çit and Sezgin Coskun were wounded. Among them Tolga Çit is at risk of becoming disabled. Of the 31 students, who were detained after the incident at Antep University on 4 December Sahin Bakir, Metin Oruç, Erol Kanar, Özgür Vicdan, Vural Tarla, Server Seker, Recep Tel, Davut Aksu, Nurullah Canbay, Haydar Ankiçkan, Murat Aktas, A. Gökhan Kutbeyoglu and Ali Sönmez were arrested on 7 December. Reports from Nazilli district (Aydin) stated that MHP followers beat a student from the Adnan Menderes University on 5 December. On 6 December the same people attacked a worker at the university. (Cumhuriyet-Evrensel- Milliyet-TIHV, December 8-9, 2001)
MHP Follower on Trial
Kadiköy Criminal Court No. 2 continued to hear the case of Ihsan Bal on 26 December. The hearing was adjourned to 25 January 2002. On 17 April 1999 a group of right-wing "idealists" attacked a convoy of cars returning from a meeting of the Socialist Power Party (SIP) near Içerenköy (Istanbul). SIP member Hüseyin Duman (born 1971) was killed. 1,5 years later Ihsan Bal, chairman of the Idealist Union in Küçükbakkalköy was charged under Article 448 TPC for intentional killing that requires a sentence of between 24 and 30 years' imprisonment. Meanwhile it was revealed that the name of Ihsan Bal had been mentioned in connection with the killing of Ali Güngör, sympathizer of Kurtulus, on 23 April 1977 and Metin Yüksel, chairman of an association of raiders (religious organization), on 22 February 1979. He was tried for both incidents. But acquitted because of "lack of evidence". (Evrensel-TIHV, December 27, 2001)
Human Rights violations in brief
Death in Kirklareli E-type Prison
On 30 November the juvenile E.T. (16) committed suicide in Kirklareli E-type Prison by hanging himself in the open space of the staircase. In Kayseri Closed Prison Mehmet Girgin (19), imprisoned on allegations of theft, allegedly committed suicide on 2 December by hanging himself on the toilet. (Evrensel-Sabah-TIHV, December 1-3, 2001)
Prisoners on trial for resistance
In Mardin the prisoners Seyhmus Karaali (Karaalp) and Abdülkadir San (Sani) were indicted on charges of "resistance against officials on duty". On 21 August they had talked to the prison director and allegedly were beaten by 10 to 15 guardians on thesr way back to their cells. The official complaint against the guardians was turned by the prosecutor. The trial against Karaali and San will start at Mardin Penal Court in the near future. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 2, 2001)
Demonstation Prevented in Istanbul
On 30 November the police prevented students for the Marmara University (Istanbul) from staging a demonstration in favor of students, who were not allowed to university for wearing headscarves. Some female students waiting at the entrance were dispersed by the police. (Yeni Safak-TIHV, December 1, 2001)
1 December Actions
The actions on 1 December organized by the Labor Platform under the slogan of "No to Poverty, Betrayal and War" passed without serious incidents. In Merzifon the poice detained Mehmet Saydam (Egitim-Sen), Murat Özhan (Egitim-Sen), Erhan Aydogan (EMEP), Tugrul Saltik (ÖDP), Cem Yurduseven, Nesrin Çulha and Deniz Erime. In Bitlis the police did not allow for a demonstration and in Batman, Diyarbakir, Mardin and Tunceli press statements were read out instead of demonstration. In Ankara the police prevented the demonstrators to walk towards Kizilay Square. A press statement was read out in Mithatpasa Road. Some 35 people were detained including 9 trade unionists. (Cumhuriyet-Evrensel-TIHV, December 2, 2001)
Detentions and Arrests in different cities
In Usak technician Muammer Özgür Küçüktekin (24), teacher Ahmet Serkan Tomar (28), Sabri Serkan Kazak (22), Onur Ayaz (25) and Rahmi Tiril were detained. Allegedly they distributed leaflets in the name of "Anarchist Autonomic Organization in Usak" during the action of the Labour Platform on 1 December and are suspected of having links to Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir. In Daglioglu quarters of Adana a crowd of some 500 people had gathered on 2 December to celebrate the anniversary of 27 November. The police detained many people. In the same quarter the distributors of the daily Yedinci Gündem, Recep Karayel and Naci Temel were detained. The police confiscated 51 newspapers and offered the juveniles money, if they worked with the police. Later Karayel and Temel were released. On 4 December Istanbul SSC arrested Onur Toprak, Murat Arslan and Burhan Özemiroglu. They had been detained together with another four suspects alleged to have been involved in robbery of 3 jewellery shops in Ümraniye (Istanbul) in the name of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C). The other four people, Serdal Mutlu, Recep Yildiz, Ugur Turgut and Celal Gezgin, were released on orders of the prosecutor. In Izmir Hasan Lütfi Koçak was detained as an alleged member of the PKK. (Cumhuriyet-Evrensel-Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 4, 2001)
TSIP Officials go to Prison
In a press statement of 4 December representatives of the Socialist Workers' Party of Turkey (TSIP) announced that the 9th Chamber of the Court of Cassation confirmed the verdict against its chairman Turgut Koçak and the board members Hasan Yavas and Necmi Özyurda. On 12 December 2000 demonstrators protesting against the F-type prisons on Kizilay Square (Ankara) had entered the building with the offices of TSIP in an attempt to escape the police. Later the offices of TSIP were searched and allegedly posters and banners of illegal organizations were found there. On 19 December the TSIP officials Koçak, Yavas and Özyurda were arrested. They were tried at Ankara SSC, which convicted them on 15 May under Article 169 TPC and sentenced them to 45 months' imprisonment. On that day the defendants were released. Following the confirmation of the sentences on 28 November the defendants are facing imprisonment at any time to serve the remainder of their sentences. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 5, 2001)
Akin Birdal on Trial
The trial against akin Birdal, former chairman of the IHD for a speech he held in Germany, during which he allegedly said that Turkey should apologize for the Armenian genocide, continued on 4 December. Ankara Criminal Court adjourned the hearing to 29 January 2002 in an attempt to establish the identity of the journalist, who wrote the article in the daily "Gözcü". Akin Birdal us tried under Article 159/1 TPC. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 5, 2001)
The Ipekçi Case
On 4 December Istanbul Criminal Court No. 4 continued to hear the case
of Yalçin Özbey and Yusuf Çelikkaya for their alleged
involvement in the killing of Journalist Abdi Ipekçi. The hearing
was adjourned to 23 February 2002 for the completion of the files. Yalçin
Özbey and Yusuf Çelikkaya are tried under Articles 450/4 and
65/3 TPC and have to expect sentences of up to 20 years' imprisonment if
convicted. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 5, 2001)
Hezbollah Operation
Joint operations by the police in Istanbul and from Batman resulted in the detention of 10 Hezbollah militants. The names of 9 suspects were given as Rifat Demir, Ahmet Durmaz, Ahmet Sahin, Tahir Ak, Garip Özer, Davut Sahin, Abdülaziz Ketme, Besir Acar and Zübeyir Sener. The suspects are being held responsible for 27 violent acts including the killing of ex-deputy for the Democracy Party (DEP). Mehmet Sincar, on 4 September 1993 in Batman, the killings of the police officers Köksal Bulut, Mustafa Koçak and Mustafa Bilicik in Küçükçekmece (Istanbul) on 14 October and the killings of the alleged "confessor" Saban Elaltinteri (42) and his son Mehmet Elaltinteri (22) in Esenler (Istanbul) on 25 August. (Milliyet-Sabah-TIHV, December 5, 2001)
The Susurluk Case
The decision of the Panel of Chambers of the Court of Cassation concerning the Susurluk case will have to be taken on 11 December. The prosecutor at the Court of Cassation had objected to the verdict of the 8th Chamber of the Court of Cassation to quash the sentences imposed by Istanbul SSC. During the hearing of 4 December 13 members of the Panel voted for the prosecutor's objection. 11 members wanted the objection to be rejected. Thus the 2/3 majority was not reached. During the second hearing a simple majority will be enough. (Radikal-TIHV, December 5, 2001)
Events in Akkise
Konya Criminal Court No. 2 reportedly completed the files concerning the events in Akkise town (Ahirli district-Konya), during which one civilian was killed, five civilians and allegedly 25 soldiers were wounded. Staff sergeant Ali Çaliskan, who had ordered the intervention after two persons had been unable to present their IDs and who was appointed to Nevsehir, will be charged for "intentional killing and badly treating of individuals" and has to expect life-imprisonment. The case will be heard at Konya Criminal Court No. 2 in the near future. (Radikal-TIHV, December 6, 2001)
Hezbollah Trial
On 5 December Diyarbakir SSC No. 2 started to hear the case of 9 defendants charged with activities for the radical Islam organization Hezbollah. The hearing was attended by the defendants Veysi Alabalik, Göksel Günes, Mahmut Akgül (all under arrest), Mahmut Erdogan, Mehmet Erdogan, Serif Furat, Muhyettin Çinar and Haci Çinar (not in pre-trial detention). Only the defendant Remziye Günes (not under arrest) had not appeared. In the indictment the prosecutor accused the defendants Alabalik, Günes and Akgül of organizational activities, while the other 6 defendants are charged with educational activities. In his defence Veysi Alabalik rejected the charges stating that he had no connection to the organization. He had been the guest of his relative Göksel Günes, when the police raided the flat. He added that he had not fired any shot and had not even been in possession of a pistol. All other defendants also rejected the charges and asked for acquittal. The court rejected demands of release, but ordered the transfer of Veysi Alabalik to the Hospital for Mental Diseases in Elazig to establish whether he could be held responsible for criminal acts. In this trial Veysi Alabalik is charged under Article 146/1 TPC that requires the death penalty and the other defendants are charged under Article 168/2 TPC with a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment. (Hürriyet-TIHV, December 6, 2001)
Demand for Compensation
The family of Fuat.Nalkiran (13), who after the killing of the businessman Üzeyir Garih on 25 August had been presented as "crazy and glue snuffer" filed a case against the Ministry of the Interior and 8 newspapers with a demand of TL 335 billion compensation. Interior Minister Kazim Rüstü Yücelen had presented the child as "the killer" and due to reports in the press the father Hasan Nalkiran and brother Bayram Nalkiran had lost their jobs. F. Nalkiran was held in custody for two despite his young age and allegedly was beaten and his testicles were squeezed during interrogation. (Radikal-TIHV, December 6, 2001)
Stop Warning
On 5 December Ibrahim Bulut was injured, when the police shot at him, allegedly because he did not listen to stop warnings after a burglary. In Istanbul Gaziosmanpasa three people, who had stolen a car, fired at the police, when they tried to stop them. The police officers Lütfi Altin and Ayhan Korkmaz were slightly injured. In Izmir Coskun Kösder, an alleged thief was injured when he fell down 8 meters in an attempt to escape arrest. (Zaman-TIHV, December 6, 2001)
Trial against IHD
On 6 December the trial against the Ankara branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) with the demand of closure continued at Ankara SSC. The defendants are charged with "supporting illegal organizations" by conducting protest activities in connection with the death fast actions. Lawyer Kazim Genç stated that his client Ali Riza Bektas was receiving psychological treatment and the court followed his demand to have him examined on his "criminal" responsibility. The hearing was adjourned to 19 February 2002. The defendants in this trial are Lütfi Demirkapi (chairman), Ilhami Yaban, Ismail Boyraz, Erol Direkçi, Mesut Çetiner, Zeki Irmak, Riza Resat Çetinbas, Ali Riza Bektas, Selim Necati Ort, Saniye Simsek, Ekrem Erdin, Gökçe Otlu and Emrah Serhan Soysal. (TIHV, December 7, 2001)
Death Sentences
The Court of Cassation confirmed the sentences of 4 alleged members of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C), said to have planned the assassination of State President Kenan Evren. On 8 May. Istanbul SSC had sentenced Ercan Kartal to death under Article 146/1 TPC and the defendants Berkan Abatay and Fadime Bastug had been sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for membership of an illegal organization. The sentence of 45 months' imprisonment for the defendant Ilhan Uçar had been suspended according to the Law on Conditional Release and Suspension of Sentences. This was in fact a retrial after the Court of Cassation had quashed an earlier verdict by Istanbul SSC of 22 April 1999. At that time most defendants charged with the demand of the death penalty had been acquitted. The Court of Cassation had, however, confirmed the acquittals of the defendants Filiz Gencer, Serif Minaz and Canan Ferai Köker. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 7, 2001)
Trade Unionist on Trial
The trial against the former spokesperson for the Confederation of Trade Unions in the Public Sector (KESK) in Kayseri, Tahsin Yilmaz, on allegations of "conducting an illegal demonstration" resulted in acquittal at Kayseri Penal Court No. 2 on 6 December. Tahsin Yilmaz had been indicted for an action of 23 December 1999, a meeting to protest at the increase of prices. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 7, 2001)
Warning against TKP
On 11 November the Socialist Power Party (SIP) dissolved itself to unite with the Communist Party (KP). The new party is called Turkish Communist Party (TKP). The TKP informed the prosecution at the Court of Cassation of this change. In return Chief Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Sabih Kanadoglu, approached the Constitutional Court for issuing a warning against the party. He argued that Article 96 of Law No. 2820 on Political Parties prohibited the use of attributes such as communist or fascist. He also pointed at Article 104 of that law. Earlier the Constitutional Court had warned the KP and granted a period of 6 months to make the necessary changes. (Hürriyet-TIHV, December 7, 2001)
Board members of IHD dismissed
Batman Governorate dismissed the board members of the Batman branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD). The reasons were given as "some members of the IHD having connection to the PKK" and "others being civil servants". In their appeal of 5 December the lawyers Sabih Ataç, Zeki Ekmen, Sedat Özevin, Zekeriya Aydin, Taner Kuyumcu and Hakan Toy asked the governor to revise the decision, since it had no legal justification. (TIHV, December 10, 2001)
Rape in Custody
The police officer Asim Çetin will be put on trial for raping N.K. (21) after she had been taken into custody at Bakirköy Police HQ. on allegations of prostitution. The hearing will start at a criminal court in the near future. (Sabah-TIHV, December 8, 2001)
Prisoners on Trial
On 7 December the trial against ex-prisoners from Çanakkale Prison on charges of "producing explosives", an offence allegedly committed prior to the operations in prisons, continued at Istanbul SSC No. 6. The defendants had not been brought to the hearing. The court decided to lift the arrest warrants in connection with this trial and adjourned the hearing to 10 April 2002. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 8, 2001)
The "Umut" Case
Ankara SSC continued to hear the case of 24 people accused of 22 different actions including the killing of Ugur Mumcu, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, Bahriye Üçok and Muammer Aksoy. The hearing was adjourned to 7 January 2002. Earlier prosecutor Hamza Keles had asked for the imprisonment of Abdullah Argun Çetin (at the beginning charged with the demand of the death penalty) and acquittal of Musa Koca, Ismail Koçhan, Seref Dursun and Adnan Yükdag, because of lack of evidence. For the defendants Ferhan Özmen, Rüstü Aytufan, Necdet Yüksel, Yusuf Karakus, Muzaffer Dagdeviren, Abdulhamit Çelik, Fatih Aydin, Hasan Kiliç and Mehmet Sahin he asked for the death penalty according to Article 146/1 TPC. The defendants Murat Nazli, Adil Aydin, Mehmet Gürova, Mehmet Kasap, Hakki Selçuk Sanli and Talip Özçelik should be sentenced according to Article 168/2 TPC for membership of an illegal organization. The defendant Mehmet Ali Tekin should be convicted according to 168/1 TPC for leading membership of an illegal organization. Dervis Polat and Yüksel Pekdemir should be sentenced for supporting an armed gang according to Article 169 TPC, while the case of Arif Tari should be suspended according to the Law on Conditional Release and Suspension of Sentences. (Hürriyet-TIHV, December 8, 2001)
Attack on TKP
On 6 December youngsters calling themselves "idealist youth" attacked the offices of the Turkish Communist Party (TKP) in Çanakkale province. They destroyed the furniture and left. The party's executive Özgül Demir and member Erkan Hakalmaz were detained when they wanted to hold a press conference in protest at the incident. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 8, 2001)
Situation of Prisons
According to figures provided by the Ministry of Justice 157 prisoners are on death fast and 7 on hunger strike as of 3 December. The statement spoke of 59,108 prisoners in 536 prisons, 49,552 of them common criminals, 8,582 political prisoners and 974 imprisoned for involvement in (criminal) gangs. According to the Law on Conditional Release and Suspension of Sentences 33,109 prisoners had been released and 315 of the released prisoners had committed new offences leading to imprisonment. Councils for Supervision of the Prisons were to be established in 129 places. So far 60 of them had been established. (Hürriyet-Radikal-TIHV, December 10, 2001)
Lawyers on Trial
The lawyers Murat Çelik, former chairman of the Association of Contemporary Jurists, Bahri Belen and Göksel Aslan appeared at Bakirköy Criminal Court No. 5 on 10 December. They are being tried for having erected a tent in front of Bakirköy Prison in protest at the protocol of the three Ministries of Justice, the Interior and Health. During the hearing lawyer Bahri Belen rejected the charges of having staged an illegal demonstration. The hearing was adjourned to 11 February 2002. (TIHV, December 11, 2001)
Death Penalty Demanded
Sinan Demirkaza and Erkan Çeliker were indicted by the public prosecutor in Istanbul for having killed the woman Ridvaniye Kahraman when they tried to grab her bag. The prosecutor asked for the death penalty. (Hürriyet-TIHV, December 11, 2001)
Human Rights Day
Statements on behalf of the international human rights day on 10 December came from a whole variety of sources. State President Ahmet Necdet Sezer talked to the members of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission and demanded that the necessary legal changes should follow the constitutional amendments. He criticized the practice in the region under a state of emergency (OHAL) and stated that the decrees for this region should be subjected to review by the Constitutional Court. He particularly criticized that the length of detention was 10 days in the OHAL region and could be extended to 30 or 40 days, if applied several times, although the constitutional amendments had restricted the period of detention to 4 days. Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit said that Turkey had been one of the first countries to accept the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and claimed that Turkey strictly followed the universal values of this document. Ismail Cem, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that activities to ratify further international conventions on human rights had been speeded up. (Cumhuriyet-TIHV, December 11, 2001)
Death in Custody
The results of the autopsy of Yunus Güzel, who died at Istanbul Police HQ. on 23 October, were made public. A lesion of 4 cm was on his forehead, which could not be seen from outside. On his left wrist there was an abrasion, on the left arm four bruises colored green and yellow and on the front of his left shoulder there were sign of bleeding. The report also stated four wounds on the left hip and concluded that the death was the result of hanging. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 12, 2001)
Hezbollah Trial
On 11 December Diyarbakir SSC continued to hear the case of Mehmet Fidanci, an alleged militant of the radical Islam organization Hezbollah, charged with the killing of 14 people including the ex-Chief of Diyarbakir Police, Gaffar Okkan and five police officers. The defendant rejected the charges stating that he was in Istanbul at time of the assassination. He added that he had to accept the charges because after detention he was subjected to severe torture. Mehmet Fidanci asked the court to assist him in being transferred to another prison, because he was being held under isolation. The court decided to remand the defendant and adjourned the hearing to 12 February 2002. If convicted the defendant has to expect the death penalty according to Article 146/1 TPC. (Hürriyet-TIHV, December 12, 2001)
Trade Unionist Detained
Nurettin Kiliçdogan, the chairman of the Ankara branch of the trade union of workers' in the sector for motorized vehicles (TÜMTIS) and the members Selahattin Demir, Hüseyin Akdogan, Sükrü Akdogan, Ismail Erdogan, Alaattin Coskun, Abdullah Vural and Efendi Kaplan were detained on 7 December. In Istanbul the worker Mehmet Kaya was arrested on 10 December, when he went to Gazi Police Station to testify on charges of "hindering colleagues to work" at the company Aktif Distribution. In Bursa Riza Balli and Hasan Dogan, executives of TÜMTIS, were detained on 10 December, when they went to talk to the company "Bursa Basak" for talks on the sacking of members of trade unions. The executive Gürel Yilmaz was detained, when he went to Zeytinburnu Police Station (Istanbul) to ask for the fate of his colleagues. All people were released the same day after the prosecutor had decided that there was no reason for prosecution. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 12, 2001
The Susurluk Scandal
On 11 December the Panel of Chambers at the Court of Cassation decided in favor of the objection by the chief prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu against the decision of the 8th Chamber of the Court of Cassation that had quashed the sentences by Istanbul SSC No. 6 imposed on 14 defendants. The decision was taken by 16 against 9 votes. During an earlier debate the necessary majority of 2/3 had not been reached. This time a simple majority was enough. Istanbul SSC No. 6 had convicted Ibrahim Sahin and Korkut Eken (former staff member of the secret service MIT) to 6 years' imprisonment for "founding a gang with the aim to commit crimes". The other 12 defendants, including members of "special teams", Ayhan Çarkin, Ayhan Akça, Oguz Yorulmaz, Enver Ulu, Mustafa Altunok, Ercan Ersoy, Ziya Bandirmalioglu, Abdülgani Kizilkaya, Haluk Kirci, Yasar Öz, Sami Hostan and Ali Fevzi Bir had received sentences of 4 years' imprisonment for "membership of a gang, established to commit crimes". On 24 October the 8th Chamber of the Court of Cassation had quashed the sentences on the grounds of "incomplete investigation". The same chamber will now have to decide whether the verdict and the sentences are correct. (Radikal-TIHV, December 12, 2001)
Trial on Massacre in Prison
On 12 December Ankara Criminal Court No. 6 continued to hear the case against 161 gendarmes, including the officers Ali Öz, Zahit Engin, Muhittin Ates and Nevfel Denizyilmaz, in connection with the operation in Ulucanlar Prison on 26 September 1999 that resulted in the death of 10 prisoners. The presiding judge stated that Ankara Criminal Court No. 5 had reacted negatively on the intention to combine this case and the case at that court against 85 prisoners in connection with the same incident. The files will be sent to the Court of Cassation to clarify the different standpoints. (Yeni Safak-TIHV, December 13, 2001)
"Return to Life" Operation
On 12 December Eyüp Penal Court No. 3 started to hear the case of 1,615 people on duty at Bayrampasa Prison during the "Return to Life" operation of December 2000. The defendants are charged with "ill-treatment" and "misconduct of duty", since prisoners were found to be in possession of arms. The defendants rejected the charges stating that they carefully searched all visitors to the prison and did not ill-treat the prisoners. The indictment stated that the prison had been searched on 7 December 2000 and the arms were brought into the prison between this date and 19 December 2000. The hearing was adjourned to hear the testimony of further defendants. If convicted the defendants have o expect sentences between 1 and 6 years' imprisonment. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 13, 2001)
Police threats Student
Yesim Tunçsan, student at the Aegean University, Faculty for Chemistry, held a press conference at the premises of the Human Rights Association (IHD) in Izmir on 12 December. She said that she was a reader of the journal "Devrimci Mücadele" and stated that she had been detained on 8 November, when she left the university. At the department to fight terrorism (in Bozyaka) she had been threatened with being killed. On 30 November she had been threatened again, when she left the university and refused to show her ID. (Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 13, 2001)
Investigation against Lawyers
In connection with the incidents during a hearing at Ankara Penal Court No. 5 on 5 December 2000 an investigation was started against 27 lawyers. The hearing related to the massacre in Ankara Closed Prison on 26 September 1999 during which 10 prisoners died. The lawyers are accused of having made their clients shout slogans and to have incited the audience against the court. The investigation will be conducted by the public prosecutor in Kirikkale (the nearest place to Ankara with a criminal court). The prosecutor will decide on launching a case, after taking the testimony of the accused lawyers. They are: Medeni Ayhan, Nurten Çaglar, Fahriye Belgün, Dilek Midik, Vahide Özgür Sariyildiz, Sevil Ceylan, Aytül Kaplan, Devrim Karakülah, Riza Karaman, Gaye Dinçel, Hüseyin Yüksel Biçen, Nuray Özdogan, Nazan Betül Vangölü, Vedat Aytaç, Haci Ali Özhan, Filiz Kalayci, Suna Coskun, Kazim Bayraktar, Gülizar Tuncer, Ibrahim Ergün, Selçuk Kozagaçli, Sevim Akat, Keles Öztürk, Göksel Arslan, Zeki Rüzgar, Mecit Engeci and Oya Aydin. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 14, 2001)
Trial on Events in Ümraniye Prison
On 13 December Üsküdar Criminal Court No. 1 continued to hear the case of 399 prisoners accused of "armed uprising, killing and injuring people" in Ümraniye Prison during the "Return to Life Operation" between 19 and 22 December. None of the defendants had appeared. The court decided to ask for audio-visual material on the incidents and adjourned the hearing to 12 April 2002. (TIHV, December 14, 2001)
Torture in Bursa
On 14 December Sükrü Duman, Fethiye Tepe, Özkan Kaygusuz, Tevhide Akinci, editor-in-chief of the journal "Devrimci Demokrasi" and staff member Gülten Kahraman, who had been detained on 11 December during the raid of the house in Bursa, where Hüseyin Yildiz was continuing the death fast action, held a press conference at the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD). Tevhide Akinci said that all detainees had been beaten, the men's testicles had been squeezed, and they had been threatened with rape and subjected to swearing and cursing. She added that Hüseyin Yildiz had been taken to a hospital, but had been released, when he refused treatment. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 15, 2001)
Death Penalty
On 13 December Ankara SSC No. 2 announced its verdict in the case of Ali Gülmez, the alleged secretary of the Turkish Communist Party/ML-Workers' and Peasants Liberation Army of Turkey (TKP/ML TIKKO) for the Black Sea region. The court found him guilty of a bomb attack on a car with prisoners from the trial on incidents in Sivas on 1 August 1997 and the bomb attack on Ayhan Cevik, governor of Çankiri on 5 March 1999 and sentenced him to death according to Article 146/1 TPC. (Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 14, 2001)
Hezbollah Trial
On 13 December Diyarbakir SSC continued to hear the case of Haci Bayancik, Mehmet Veysi Özel (alleged leaders of the radical Islam organization Hezbollah), Aydin Dagli, Remzi Kaçar and Fadil Sani. In his testimony Veysi Özel said that his statement to the police had been extracted under torture and he renounced from defending himself. In this trial the death penalty is sought against the defendants Haci Bayancik, Mehmet Veysi Özel, Aydin Dagli and Remzi Kaçar under Article 146 TPC. The prosecution asked for imprisonment for the defendant Fadil Sani. (Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 14, 2001)
Decree 430
Following the statement by State President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and a parliamentary request by Bliss Party MP Mehmet Bekaroglu the people, who had been held in police custody for an excessive length of time, were taken to prison. The students Emrullah Karagöz and Mustafa Yasar, who had been interrogated for over 40 days, were put in Diyarbakir Prison. Following an objection to that they were transferred to Urfa Prison on 12 December. Lawyer Faruk Yaygin, secretary of Urfa IHD, saw them in prison and said that they could not stand on their feet. They were unshaven and smelled, because they had been unable to wash themselves. "They told me that they had been tortured at the centre for the intelligence of the gendarmerie (JITEM). Emrullah Karagöz said that they had been forced to sign statements without knowing the contents." Hatip Alay, member of parliament in the municipality of Sur (Diyarbakir) reportedly was tortured over 14 days and had to be taken to hospital. Following treatment he was sent to Diyarbakir E-type Prison. He said that his testicles had been squeezed, hosed with pressurized water, left without breathing air by putting a plastic bag over his head; he had been beaten and suspended by his arms. Remziye Dag (60) and Fehim Ak, who had been held in detention over 24 days, allegedly were also tortured. Fehime Eti, who had been taken for interrogation from Bitlis Prison on 25 November, despite the fact that the prison is not in the borders of the state of emergency, reportedly is still held in detention. The order had been issued by Van SSC. (Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 15, 2001)
Detentions and Arrests in Bursa
In Bursa the police conducted an operation against alleged members of the radical Islamic organization Hezbollah and detained 10 people including Bülent Sakar, suspected of killing Murat Sultanoglu (31), another member of the organization, in 1998. After interrogation the suspects Bülent Sakar, Sabahattin Sakar, Yücel Kotan, Fuat Alkont, Adnan Alinç, Bayram Gül, Ramazan Ongan and Nufer Azak were arrested; Fatli D. and Masuk Y. were released. (Cumhuriyet-TIHV, December 18, 2001)
Police Shoots Waiter
During the evening of 16 December the police officer Ali Soner Durmaz (29), employed at the department for special operations at Adana Police HQ., shot the waiter Abdullah Sizdi (37) in his head, when he allegedly refused to sell him beer in a pub in Ziyapasa quarter of Adana. The waiter died in the pub and the police officer was arrested. (Aksam-TIHV, December 18, 2001)
Protest in Bursa E-type Prison
On 18 December the prisoners in Bursa E-type Prison charged with membership of the PKK, did not meet their visitors. By this action they wanted to protest against the fact that visits had been restricted lately and that they did not get food and letters from outside. Some 250 relatives had come to the prison. When they could not meet the prisoners they talked to the prosecutor, who allegedly said that the treatment in Bursa was different to other prisons. However the deputy director of the prison promised the relatives to look into the affair. Thereupon the relatives dispersed peacefully. (Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 19, 2001)
Supervisory Councils for the Prisons
The composition of further supervisory councils for the prisons has raised concern about their objectivity. In Hakkari, Chief of Hakkari Police, Zekeriya Kahraman, became the chairman of the local council and the other four members are civil servants from the municipality and the State hospital. Hüsnü Ayhan, chairman of Van Bar Association, who is also responsible for Hakkari, stated that the problem stemmed from the legislation providing that members of the supervisory councils for the prisons had to be chosen amongst those, who had spent 10 years in the public service. This meant that only civil servants could become members. (Milliyet-TIHV, December 19, 2001)
Police Shot during ID check
On 18 December Sami Özdemir (29) and Sedat Dönmezer (20) reportedly shot at the police officers Ramazan Çaliskan and Hasan Hüseyin Çetiner, employed at Isparta Police HQ., when they were asked for their IDs. Ramazan Çaliskan was killed. Sami Özdemir (29) and Sedat Dönmezer (20) were detained. (Sabah-TIHV, December 19, 2001)
Compensation for Parliamentary Request
Mahmut Göksu, MP for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Adiyaman is faced with a demand for compensation by the Director for the Police Department on Organized Crimes, Adil Serdar Saçan, who complained that he was wrongfully accused of torture. MP Gökus had tabled the question to Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit in connection with the operation against the so-called Albayraklar group, asking whether the defendants had been tortured or not. Rüstü Kazim Yücelen, who had argued that the torture allegations were unfounded, gave the answer. One month later Adil Serdar Sacan asked for a compensation of TL 5 billion and also approached the administrative court to stop MP Göksu from further talks on the issue in public. (Radikal-TIHV, December 19, 2001)
IHD Executives on Trial
In connection with the "Solidarity Night" of the Elazig branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) on 21 April the deputy chairman Osman Baydemir, the chairman of the Elazig branch Cafer Demir and the secretary Kenan Çetin were put on trial at Malatya SSC. The defendants are charged under Article 312 TPC for speeches they made during the evening. The trial will start on 27 Decmber. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 20, 2001)
Impunity of torturers
The Human Rights Centre of Istanbul Bar Association published the result of a 3-year study on trials against torturers in Istanbul. The lawyers Zeynep Kaya and Seref Turgut made the research on 7 different criminal courts hearing cases based on Article 243 TPC (torture). At the beginning of the study they stated that most cases had been considered as ill-treatment, but had been left outside the scope of the research. At the criminal courts in Sultanahmet, Kadiköy, Bakirköy, Eyüp, Beyoglu, Kartal and Üsküdar a total of 124 trials had been heard between 1998 and 2000. 81 of them had been terminated, but only in 7 cases the courts had convicted the defendants. 63 trials had ended in acquittal, in 7 cases the courts had decided not to be responsible, 2 cases had been suspended and another 2 cases had been combined with other cases. 43 trials were still continuing. The total number of defendants in these 124 trials was 353 and for 231 of them the cases had been finalized. 193 of them had been acquitted, 12 had been convicted and the other cases were either continuing or had been terminated otherwise. In their study the lawyer drew attention to the fact that some police officers had repeatedly been put on trial (H.M. 6 times, B.K. 5 times, A.B. And N.A. 3 times), but none of them had been dismissed from duty. The police officer M.S. Had twice been convicted during three years. In one case he was sentenced to 10 and in the other case to 2.5 months' imprisonment, but both sentences had been suspended. (Radikal-TIHV, December 20, 2001)
Operation in the prisons
On the anniversary of the "return to life" operation members of NGOs and relatives of prisoners wanted to hold a press conference in front of Bayrampasa Prison (Istanbul). Lawyer Eren Keskin, chairwoman of the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD), made a statement on the occasion. After the speech the demonstrators left carnations in front of the prison. When some of them shouted slogans such as "free the prisoners", "long live the death fast resistance" the police intervened and detained some 25 demonstrators under beatings and by dragging them over the ground. In Adana the police prevented relatives of prisoners to hold a press conference in front of the IHD office. (Cumhuriyet-Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 20, 2001)
Death in Prison
Oktay Koçal (41) died in Kandira F-type Prison on 19 December because of a heart attack. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 20, 2001)
Raid in Küçükarmutlu
The prosecutor at Istanbul SSC indicted 13 people in connection with the raid of houses in Küçükarmutlu and Alibeyköy (Istanbul) with hunger strikers in November this year. Of those detained in Küçükarmutlu Gamze Turan (under arrest), Selma Kubat (under arrest), Vedat Çelik (under arrest) and those detained in Alibeyköy Cemal Keser, Murat Sahin (under arrest) and Aydin Hanbayat will be charged as "members of an illegal organization" and the others Orhan Gül, Yeter Güzel (under arrest), Ferhat Ertürk, Madimak Özen, Hüseyin Akpinar, Halil Acar and Özkan Güzel will be charged with "supporting members of an illegal organization". (Vakit-TIHV, December 21, 2001)
Death Fasts in Antakya
The police intervened in Antakya, when some people wanted to hold a press conference on the anniversary of the operation in the prison on 19 December 2000. The people had gathered in front of the teachers' union Egitim-Sen. The police dispersed them by force and detained 25 people. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 21, 2001)
Death in Prison
Mustafa Cumlu Tezdogan (50) died in Kartal Special Type Prison on 20 December, reportedly because of an asthmatic crisis. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 21, 2001)
List of Wanted People
During the visit of the Interior Minister Rüstü Kazim Yücelen to Germany a list of wanted people was handed over to the German Minister of the Interior, Otto Schily. The list of 155 names includes names such as Dursun Karatas, Zerrin Sari, Faruk Ereren, Aslan Tayfun Özkök, Aslan Sener Yildirim (among 11 members of the DHKP/C), Mehmet Selim Çürükkaya and Duran Kalkan (among 105 members of the PKK), Bülent Uslu and Erkan Ersoy (from the MLKP), Isa Altsoy (from Hezbollah), Mustafa Saka (from IBDAC), Metin Kaplan and Hasan Basri Gökbulut (from the so-called Kaplancilar), Vezir Bas and Sefik Polat (among 3 people from the Islamic Movement) Haluk Çelik and Ali Serdar Can (among 22 persons from TKP/ML-TIKKO) and 8 people from the organizations TKP/B, TKEP and TIKB including Teslim Töre. The German minister replied positive saying that he would do anything necessary. (Milliyet-TIHV, December 21, 2001)
Circular on Custody
The Ministry of Justice sent a circular to all prosecutors demanded to apply the new regulation of a maximum of 48 hours for individual and 4 days custody for collective offences without waiting for new legislation according to the constitutional amendments. The circular under the title "length of detention and apprehension" stated that these periods might be extended under a state of emergency, martial law or in situations of war. On the other hands the Ministry of Justice reportedly is investigating periods of detention up to 40 days in Diyarbakir. (Radikal-TIHV, December 22, 2001)
Death Penalty Demanded
The prosecutor at Erzurum SSC opened a case against Metin Kaplan, leader of the "Anatolian Federal Islamic State", demanding the death penalty. Metin Kaplan allegedly called Turkey a "terrorist State" in the organization's paper "Ümmeti Muhammed". (Yeni Safak-TIHV, December 22, 2001)
Death Fasts
On 22 December some 40 women were detained under beatings, when they tried to send letters to female prisoners in F-type prisons from Galatasaray Post Office. They were later released. (Cumhuriyet-TIHV, December 23, 2001)
Death in Custody
On 24 December Kocaeli Criminal Court No. 2 continued to hear the case of 16 police officers charged in connection with the death of Metin Yurtsever in custody. Dursun Sevim, reporter of the news agency "Yurt Haber" and Gülseren Karabas, physician from the Hospital of Kocaeli University, testified as witnesses. The hearing was adjourned for an inspection of the film, Dursun Sevim made during the event. In this trial the police officers Sinasi Yilgin, Sih Ömer Ediz, Saban Kurnaz, Süleyman Baskal, Ismail Türkdemir, Sadettin Topal, Bülent Oral Tunar, Bekir Sahin, Temel Çakmak, Kadir Cenk, Onur Düzcan, Cemil Çetin, Nihal Yücesoy, Mehmet Gürcan, Mustafa Atik and Recai Ergün are charged "with killing a man on purpose, although the offender is not identifiable" and have to expect sentences of up to 8 years' imprisonment. Metin Yurtsever had been detained on 20 November 1998 during a raid of the offices of HADEP in Kocaeli and died on 23 November. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 25, 2001)
Physician Arrested
The physician Mehmet Çelikel, occupied in Suruç district (Urfa) was arrested on 15 December. According to a statement by the trade union for staff in the health sector (SES) the physician asked for a transfer of the prisoner Mehmet Baydan to Urfa State Hospital. The prosecutor Hasan Mete Uyanik intervened by stating that such a procedure demanded the permission of the prosecutor's office. Reportedly the doctor was also subjected to curses. When he quit office on that day he was detained and later arrested on charges of "insulting a civil servant on duty". (Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 25, 2001)
Detentions and Arrests
One of the three alleged members of the radical Islamic organization Hezbollah reportedly is named Hizbullah Girisen. The 24-year old Girisen was on the list of 26 "triggerers" of the organization as announced by ex-Diyarbakir Chief of Police, Gaffar Okkan, before he was killed in January this year. The names of the other two detainees are still unknown. (Cumhuriyet-TIHV, December 25, 2001)
Trial on 16 March Massacre
On 25 December Istanbul Penal Court No. 6 continued to hear the case of Latif Akti, Özgün Koç (both not in pre-trial detention) and Mustafa Dogan (on the run) in connection with the armed bomb attack on students from Istanbul University on 16 March 1978. The hearing was adjourned to 28 February 2002 to establish whether a tape recording existed of the conversation between the former Interior Minister Hasan Fehmi Günes and the chairman of the European Federation of Idealists' Unions, Lokman Kondakçi. In this case death penalties are sought for the defendants according to Article 450/4 TPC. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 26, 2001)
Students on Trial
Antep Penal Court No. 2 started to hear the case of 20 students in connection with the fight of 4 December at Antep University. The court ordered the release of the students Sahin Bakir, Metin Oruç, Erol Kanar, Özgür Vicdan, Vural Tarla, Server Seker, Recep Tel, Davut Aksu, Nurullah Canbay, Haydar Ankiçkan, Murat Aktas, A. Gökhan Kutbeyoglu, Ali Sönmez and lifted the arrest warrants in absentia against the students Anil Oktay Çelik, Yusuf Çiftçi, Erkan Özalp, Redi Adibelli, Orhan Çiftçi, Sezai Karatay and Umut Özaktay (Evrensel-TIHV, December 26, 2001)
Hezbollah Trials
On 25 December Istanbul SSC No. 5 continued to hear the case of 23 alleged members of the radical Islamic organization Hezbollah, including Haci Inan, said to be the leader of the military wing, responsible for actions in Adana, Mersin, Tarsus and Istanbul. Veysi Atci, attending the hearing as sub-plaintiff, stated that the DNA test of one corpse, believed to be his son Ahmet Atci had revealed that the samples of himself and his wife did not match the constellation of the corpse. The court noted that the report had not been received yet. The court rejected the demand of the defendants for release and adjourned the hearing to a later date. In this trial the death penalty is demanded against the defendants Haci Inan, Ilyas Kutulman Abdülsettar Yildizbakan, Burhan Ekineker, Mehmet Bayram Eren, Sebahattin Alkan, Mehmet Emin Ekici, Mehmet Cemil Eres and Abit Tasan according to Article 146/1 TPC. The other defendants have to expect sentences of between 15 and 22.5 years' imprisonment. In Diyarbakir the main trial against 20 alleged Hezbollah members continued at Diyarbakir SSC No. 3 on 25 December. 9 defendants were not able to attend the trial, because the transport from Bingöl Prison was impossible due to bad weather conditions. Defendant Mehmet Veysi Özer testified to the effect that, although he sympathized with the ideas he had not organizational connection to Hezbollah. The court lifted the arrest warrant issued against him in absentia. Afterwards the court followed the suggestion of the Ministry of the Interior to treat the defendant Abdulkuddüs Yersiz as a repentant "crown witness" and decided to release him. The hearing was adjourned to 28 February 2002. In this trial the prosecution asked for the death penalty for 18 defendants and two defendants have to expect sentences of between 12 and 15 years' imprisonment according to Article 168/2 TPC. In a separate case Diyarbakir SSC No. 2 passed a verdict in a trial of 30 defendants, three of them in pre-trial detention, who allegedly worked for Hezbollah in Sirnak province and its districts. On 25 December the defendants Emcet Yalçin and Mehmet Zeki Aslan (both in pre-trial detention) were sentenced to 12.5 years' imprisonment according to Article 168/2 TPC. Isa Özmen, the third defendant under arrest, was sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment. The defendants Abdülaziz Bal, Ismail Bal, Ramazan Zerey, Sükrü Ariç, M. Nuri Genç, Mahmut Bal, Selahattin Küçükkaya, M. Sirin Akman, Nevzat Demir, Abdülkerim Küçükkaya and Serif Akyüz were sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment according to Article 169 TPC. Since the offences had been committed before 23 April 1999 these sentences were suspended according to Law No. 4616. The remaining 13 defendants were acquitted. (Cumhuriyet-TIHV, December 26, 2001)
Detentions and Arrests
Mersin Police HQ. announced the detention of 10 people in connection with operations against the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C). Two of them allegedly were involved in bomb attacks in March and December this year. A judge ordered the arrest of Ahmet Apaydin, Ilhan Sener, Özgür Tasyürek, Idris Utan and Taylan Sahin, while Ugur Asker, Akil Nergül, Ali Sener, Kemal Yerdem and Ibrahim Balli were released to be tried without arrest. In Tire district (Izmir) the students Oguz Dikmen, Evindur Tekin, Yavuz Akça, Riza Altuntav, Çigdem Çetinkaya and Cihan Taskin were detained at the cemetry, where they went in commemoration of Ali Serkan Eroglu, who had died on 24 December 1997. All but Cihan Taskin were released on 25 December. On 25 December the police in Izmir raided the offices of the Mesopotamian Culture Center (MKM) in Basmane and detained Alaattin Aktas, Hüseyin Acar, Serkan Bakir, Zülfü Aktulum and Sores Yürük. Sündüz Sener, chairman of the HADEP for Ergani district (Diyarbakir) was arrested on 25 December, when he went to the prosecutor's office in Ergani to testify in connection with a raid on the offices of HADEP on 6 January 2001. At the time illegal publications were allegedly found, but the arrest was based on "disseminating separatist propaganda". Lawyer Firat Anli said that he would object to the arrest warrant. (Evrensel-Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 26, 2001)
Death Penalty Quashed
The 9th Chamber of the Court of Cassation quashed the death penalty against Salih Izzet Erdis, known as Salih Mirzabeyoglu, the alleged leader of the radical Islam organization IBDA-C on the grounds that the verdict did not include his accurate identity in the passage about the sentence he was given. Therefore, Istanbul SSC No. 6 will have to conduct a retrial against Erdis and his co-defendants Sadettin Ustaosmanoglu and Mehmet Fazil Aslantürk. The Court of Cassation rejected the demand for a retrial of defendant Hüsnü Göktas, who had benefitted from Law 4616 on the Conditional Release and Suspension of Trials and Execution of Sentences. (Hürriyet-TIHV, December 27, 2001)
Hezbollah Trial
On 26 December Diyarbakir SSC continued to hear the case of Servet Yoldas, Sener Dünük and Suat Çetin, alleged members of the radical Islamic organization Hezbollah, said to have been involved in the assassination of former Diyarbakir Chief of Police, Gaffar Okkan. Defendant Servet Yoldas rejected the charges saying that he did not know Sener Dünük or other defendants. Servet Yoldas is being held responsible for 17 killings and the death penalty is being demanded for him and another two defendants in the trial. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 27, 2001)
Unionists on Trial
The trial against the board members of the trade union of staff in the judiciary (Tüm Yargi Sen) on charges of striking on 21 November 2000 ended at Ankara Penal Court No. 20 on 26 December. The court acquitted the chairman Tekin Yildiz and the board members Bekir Akkaya, Kutlay Öztürk, Yildiz Çakmak, Dursun Öztürk, Hürriyet Pinar, Necdet Bekçi, Fatma Akkus, Ali Yücel Sahin, Kamuran Emir, Figen Öner and Nano Kaya stating that the offence had not materialized. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 27, 2001)
Detentions and Arrests
In Istanbul the police raided a gymnasium in Fatih quarter on 26 December and detained 46 people on charges of violating the Law on Dresses and conducting reactionary (extreme religious) activities. The detainees were taken to the department to fight terrorism and 41 of them were later taken to the Directory for Security. The prosecutor in Fatih will interrogate them today and it is expected that they will be released. The interrogation of the other five detainees continues at the department to fight terrorism. In Izmir the student Mehmet Altun was detained on 25 December apparently in connection with the campaign on education in the Kurdish language. In Bolu the students Ali Demir, Ersin Urma, Ömer Aksin and Burhan Yesilbas were detained on 23 December. In Bursa Devran Yüksel was arrested on 26 December on charges of "distributing illegal publications". (Cumhuriyet-TIHV, December 27, 2001)
Trials against Torturers
Speaking on a seminar in Izmir State Minister Nejat Arseven with responsibility on human rights presented figures on trials against alleged torturers in 2000 and 2001. He stated that 1472 officers had been charged with ill-treatment and 159 with torture. Of them 36 had been sentenced to imprisonment and 50 officers had been dismissed from office. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 27, 2001)
Torture Trial
On 27 December Ankara Penal Court No. 3 continued to hear the case of 8 police officers charged with torturing the brothers Metin and Ismail Candogan, who had been detained in Tuzluçayir (Ankara) on 26 June. The cout rejected the demand of lawyer Imam Bugu to forward the case to a criminal court, since the offence was "torture" and not "ill-treatment". The hearing was adjourned to 12 February 2002 to hear the testimony of the physicians Dr. Cumhur Akpinar and Dr. Fuat Karaduman, who had examined the brothers after detention. In this trial the police officers Ilhan Bozkurt, Ali Hasim Erkus, M. Kemal Yildirim, Musa Aktürk, Nedim Binay, Yusuf Büyükoglu, Serafettin Varol and Yilmaz Çetin are charged under Article 245 of the TPC with ill-treating the prisoners. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 28, 2001)
No Case on Torture tools
The public prosecutor in Gaziosmanpasa closed the files on the so-called Palistinean hook and a stick that had been found during an inspection of Küçükköy Police Station by the Human Rights Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey under the leadership of Dr. Sema Piskinsüt. The decision was taken because the prosecutor was unable to find any victims, which the Commission had refused to reveal. (Hürriyet-TIHV, December 28, 2001)
Human Rights Activist Detained
In Istanbul Dogan Genç, board member of the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) was detained on 25 December, by masked police officers, who came around midnight to his home. On 27 December he was released after testifying to the prosecutor at Istanbul SSC. (TIHV, December 28, 2001)
Trade Unionists on Trial
On 27 December Istanbul Penal Court No. 13 continued to hear the case of 196 civil servants, all members of the trade union "Haber Sen", who had participated in the one-day no-work action on 1 December 2000. During the hearing 45 defendants working at the General Directorate of Turkish Telekom testified. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 28, 2001)
War Protesters on Trial
On 27 December Kadiköy Penal Court No. 5 started to hear the case of 46 protesters against the war in Afghanistan. 30 defendants testified to the effect that they participated in a legal press conference. The court adjourned the hearing to 23 February to hear the testimony of the other 16 defendants, who are tried for violating the Law on Demonstrations and Meetings. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 28, 2001)
Life Imprisonment for Molotov Cocktails
On 27 December Diyarbakir SSC No 4 announced its verdict in the trail of 10 defendants alleged to have participated in an action in 1999 during which molotov cocktails had been thrown. In their final statements the defendants rejected the charges saying that they were innocent. Lawyer Fethi Gümüs stated that the statements to the police had been extracted under pressure and demanded that his clients should be acquitted. The defendants Niyazi Keçeciler and Süleyman Kaya repeated that they had been tortured in police custody. After a short break the court announced the verdict. Faruk Menekse and Süleyman Kaya were sentenced to life imprisonment. Niyazi Keçeciler, Mehmet Pence, Mehmet Pirinç, Yusuf Kaya and Abdulcebar Zeyrek were sentenced to 17 years', 4 months' imprisonment, Remzi Yeyan, Metin Alkoç and Seyit Ahmet Dagtas to 12.5 years' imprisonment and Sabahat Nakçi and Yusuf Pençe were sentenced to 45 months' imprisonment. The case against Ali Kaya was suspended according to Law No. 4616 and Saliha Nakçi was acquitted. (Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 28, 2001)
Detentions and Arrests
Three of the 46 people detained in Fatih (Istanbul) on 26 December on allegations of an offence of the Law on Clothes, were arrested on 27 December. The police stated that these people founded a new organization that split from the Ismailaga Parish under the leadership of Muhittin Altun, who is now wanted. The three arrested persons Ilhami Yegin, Resul Yilmaz and Kadir Yavuz will be charged with a violation of the Law 6136 on Arms and opening schools without permission. 41 detainees were release and the interrogation of 2 persons is still continuing. In Diyarbakir the HADEP members and executives Yusuf Aslan, Sedat Esin and Medeni Nakçi were detained on 26 December. (Cumhuriyet-Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 28, 2001)
PRESSIONS SUR LES MEDIAS / PRESSURE ON THE MEDIA
Noam Chomsky caught on Turkish legal net
The world famous linguist, Noam Chomsky's book, "American Interventionism", is currently facing charges of "separatism" in Turkey. The judge of the State Security Court in Istanbul, Bekir Rayif Aldemir, put forward that Chomsky's book, published by Aram Publishing in Turkey, was "propagating separatism". Aldemir wants one years prison sentence for publisher Fatih Tas according to the Anti Terror Law, Article 8 for "propagating against the indivisible unity of the State of the Turkish Republic with its territory and nation". Aldemir bases his prosecution especially on the Chapter titled "Possibilities of Peace in the Middle East" between the pages 143 - 185.
Aldemir is especially concentrating his prosecution on the following contents of the book, a collection of Chomsky's lectures:
"The third is Turkey and the Kurds. Through out the 1990's, this place saw the most serious crimes against Human Rights, a still ongoing process" (page 143)
"Turkey and the Kurds. The Kurds were heavily oppressed through out the modern history of the Turkish State, but this changed in 1984. In 1984, the Turkish government started a full on war against the Kurdish population in the southeast. And this continued. In reality, it still continues.This, as it can be clearly seen, did not have anything to do with the Cold War. It resulted from a counter uprising. An ethnic cleansing with the death of thousands of people, emigration of two or three million and the destruction of approximately 3,500 villages" (page 149)
The case will start on the 13th of February 2002 at State Security Court in Istanbul. (Radikal, December 2, 2001)
Cyprus: "Avrupa" Offices Reported Raided Once Again
According to the news received yesterday afternoon, the offices of Avrupa were raided once again by the police. All computers and their peripherals, which were donated to the newspaper by the public for support after the last raid, as well as all furniture, were taken away.
The gossip that the printing house was about to reach the same fate in the evening, was among the information items received.
Another move of treason from the real traitors to silence the Avrupa newspaper.
YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SILENCE US!
In fact, this not a suprise. Yesterday's latest raid on the Avrupa newspaper is the result of the hopeless struggle of the rulers of the regime-on-the-brink-of-collapse, who lost their reputation after their real character was exposed. A look at recent world history reveals it all. In all fascist systems where the end is near, the ruling parties scared of coming face-to-face with reality, increase the dosage of the very stone age methods that have so far ruined the people's lives, and try to destroy whatever little good is left.
However, they are always unsuccessful, and this time, as always, history will repeat itself. Make no mistake. It will not matter if they deprive the printing house of paper, or the newspaper columnists of computers. The news that arrives via email will also arrive by fax; if necessary it will be dicated over the phone and typed by hand letter by letter. One thing will stay the same: Avrupa will be published one way or the other.
There will be enough support for this from the patriots both within and abroad. The Avrupa newspaper is not a newspaper, but a grass roots movement that is going to lead us to the light.
This movement and the Avrupa columnists that are its representatives are the pearls that shine in the rubbish that the history of Cyprus has become. They can not be silenced or destroyed by threats or raids. I CHALLENGE YOU TO TRY AND SILENCE OUR WEB SITE AS WELL. ALL YOUR EFFORTS WILL BE IN VAIN. The Avrupa Webmaster. (Greek Helsinki Monitor, December 13, 2001)
Newspaper Akit Closed
On 3 December the radical Islam daily "Akit" shut down. The reason was presented to be of a financial nature, since the paper could not pay the sums of compensations imposed on it. (Cumhuriyet-TIHV, December 4, 2001)
Police raid to a journal
In Istanbul the premises of the journal "Yasadigimiz Vatan" were raided on 10 December. The police detained Metin Yavuz, Ruken Kiliç, Ismail Özmen, Yilmaz Kaya, Ercan Gökoglu and Kudret Sarigül and confiscated a number of publications. (Evrensel-TIHV, December 11, 2001)
Leaflet Prohibited in Siirt
The governor of Siirt prohibited the distribution of a leaflet the Siirt branch of the Human Rights Association had prepared for international human rights day. (Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 11, 2001)
Website Stopped in Istanbul
Sisli Penal Court ordered the closure of the website of the journal "Idea Politika" (www.ideapolitika.com). However, since the provider is abroad the order cannot be realized. Meanwhile trial against the manager for publication, Erol Özkoray, continue at Istanbul SSC and Istanbul Penal Court No. 2. (Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 13, 2001)
A newspaper confiscated in Istanbul
The edition of 11 December of the daily "Anadolu'da Vakit" was confiscated on orders of Istanbul SSC. The decision was based on the allegation that the article entitled "Secular Envelopes" contained an exploitation of religion. The article criticized the fact that the Ministry for Education distributed envelopes to collect donations from students. (Vakit-TIHV, December 13, 2001)
Two journalists on trial for a book
The public prosecutor in Istanbul opened a case against the journalist Celal Baslangiç and the representative of Iletisim Publishing House, Osman Nihat Tuna, in connection with the book "Temple of Fear". For the narration of incidents in the region under a state of emergency the author and the publisher are charged under Article 159 TPC with "insulting the armed forces". Most articles had earlier been published in the daily "Radikal". The book had been confiscated in August. The trial will start at Istanbul Penal Court No. 2 on 25 January 2002. (TIHV, December 14, 2001)
A book about two victims of hunger-strike confiscated
Istanbul SSC ordered the confiscation of the book "The Life of two Sisters ? Canan and Zehra", written by Ahmet Kulaksiz, the father of Canan Kulaksiz (died on 15April) and ZeIHD Kulaksiz (died on 29 June), who lost their lives during the death fast action. The order was reportedly taken on the ground that the book is "praising the death fast and making propaganda for an illegal organization". (Evrensel-TIHV, December 17, 2001)
TV station Closed by RTUK
The High Council for Radio and Television (RTÜK) ordered the closure of the TV station Habertürk because it had not broadcasted the correction of a news item. (Hürriyet-TIHV, December 15, 2001)
Poet Sukru Erbas on Trial
Van SSC launched a case against the poet Sükrü Erbas. His poems were read out during an activity organised in Hakkari from 21 to 25 June and called "Art Bridge from Istanbul to Hakkari". The indictment accuses Erbas of "disseminating separatist propaganda with the poems read out during the activity". He will be charged with an offence of Article 312 TPC. (TIHV, December 18, 2001
A Journalist Arrested in Zonguldak
Aykut Sahin, the editor-in-chief of the journal, "Özgür Üniversite" (Free University) was arrested in Zonguldak on 17 December. The arrest warrant had been issued, because the information on a trial concerning edition No. 10 of the journal could not be delivered to the address of the defendant. The trial will continue on 24 December. (Yedinci Gündem-TIHV, December 19, 2001)
BBC Crew Hindered in Artvin
The governor of Yusufeli district (Artvin) did not allow a film crew from the BBC to film for a documentary, stating that the crew did not have the necessary permission by the Ministry of the Interior. (Radikal-TIHV, December 20, 2001)
"Freedom of Thought 2000"
On 20 December Istanbul SSC No. 5 continued to hear the case of 16 intellectuals, who signed the booklet "Freedom of Thought 2000" as editors. The hearing was attended by the defendants artist Sanar Yurdatapan, Siyami Erdem (former chairman of KESK) and the radio programmer Ömer Madra. The other defendants Cengiz Bektas, Ylmaz Ensaroglu, Mehmet Atilla Maras, Yavuz Önen, Hüsnü Öndül, Etyen Mahçupyan, Lale Mansur, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Ali Nesin, Vahdettin Karabay and Zuhal Olcay had not come. Erdem and Madra said in their testimony that they had signed the booklet as editors regardless of its content and left it to the court to follow the verdict of the Court of Cassation. The Court of Cassation had ruled that the defendants should be convicted under Article 162 TPC. Istanbul SSC decided to have the defendants Lale Mansur, Zuhal Olcay, Vahdettin Karabay and Ali Nesin, who have not testified yet be taken to court, if necessary by police force, and adjourned the hearing to 26 March 2002. (TIHV, December 21, 2001)
Confiscation of Devrimci Demokrasi
Istanbul SSC ordered the confiscation of edition 21 of the journal "Devrimci Demokrasi" on the grounds that some articles contained separatist propaganda and propaganda for illegal organizations. On 20 December Istanbul SSC No. 2 passed a verdict on Baris Akcel, editor-in-chief of the journal "Devrim Yolu". The court fined him TL 11 billion for propaganda of the TKP/ML TIKKO and praise of the death fast action.(Evrensel-TIHV, December 21, 2001)
Journalists of Milliyet on Trial
The trial against Aydin Dogan, owner of the daily "Milliyet", Eren Güvener, the editor-in-chief, the journalist Can Dündar, the owner of the daily "Milli Gazete", Hazim Oktay Baser and the editor-in-chief Selami Çaliskan on charges of "having shown the Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Türk as a target for illegal organizations" continued at Istanbul SSC on 24 December. The hearing was adjourned to get the testimony of Aydin Dogan. The case is based on an article by Can Dündar that appeared in "Milliyet" on 29 April and in "Milli Gazete" on 30 April under the title "European Call on the Turks: Be Flexible". The prosecution has asked for a fine against the journalist based on the Law to Fight Terrorism". (Cumhuriyet-TIHV, December 25, 2001)
Daily Vakit Confiscated
Istanbul SSC ordered the confiscation of the daily "Vakit" of 24 December on the grounds that some articles contained "incitement to hatred and enmity". The court also ordered the confiscation of the 18th edition of the journal "Devrim Yolunda Isçi Köylü" on the grounds that some articles contained "incitement to hatred and enmity and separatist propganda". (Evrensel-Vakit-TIHV, December 26, 2001)
A newspaper publisher convicted
Fakir Yilmaz, the owner of the newspaper "Northeast Anatolia" that is published in Ardahan was sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment for an article of 10 August entitled "The Dawn may Enlighten Darkness". Ardahan Criminal Court passed the verdict on 25 December ruling that the article was an insult to the armed forces and an offence of Article 159 TPC: (Evrensel-TIHV, December 27, 2001)
Trial and detention of journalists
The case against the daily "Günlük Evrensel" on allegations that it was the follow-up of the daily "Yeni Evrensel" ended at Zeytinburnu Penal Court No. 2 on 26 December. Lawyer Fevzi Saygili and the editor-in-chief Taylan Bilgiç stated that "Yeni Evrensel" had stopped publication on 22 July. However, the trial on closure had only ended on 8 September, while "Günlük Evrensel" had started publication on 23 July. The court acquitted both defendants.
The trial against the publishing director of the journal "Isçi Köylü", Memik Horuz on charges of membership of an illegal organization continued at Ankara SSC on 26 December. Although the prosecutor demanded the release of the defendant the court did not follow this demand and adjourned the hearing to 23 January 2002.
In Batman the offices of the daily "Yedinci Gündem" and the journal "Özgür Halk" were raided by the police on 26 December. The police detained Irfan Aydin, representative of "Yedinci Gündem" and Kemal Onar, representative of "Özgür Halk". (Yedinci Gündem-Evrensel-TIHV, December 27, 2001)
A newspaper closed down in Istanbul
The governor in Istanbul ordered the closure of the journal "Yasadigimiz
Vatan" on 30 December 2001. The decision was taken because the journal
had not applied to the governorate and the technical service's aim had
not been explained. The governor for the region under a state of emergency
banned the distribution of the calendar "Pine 2002" prepared by the journal
"Azadiya Welat". (Evrensel-Yeni Safak-TIHV, December 31, 2001)
POLITIQUE INTERIEURE / INTERIOR POLICY
Limogeage inexpliqué d'un ministre ultra-nationaliste
Le ministre d'Etat chargé des relations avec les Républiques turcophones et des Turcs à l'étranger, Abdulhaluk Cay, membre du Parti de l'Action Nationaliste (MHP), a été limogé lundi soir sans raison officielle, annonce l'agence Anatolie.
Son limogeage est intervenu après une réunion du comité directeur du Parti de l'Action Nationaliste, l'une des trois formations de la coalition gouvernementale dont le leader, le vice-Premier ministre Devlet Bahçeli, s'est refusé à commenter cette décision aux journalistes.
L'agence Anatolie s'est bornée, dans une courte dépêche, à préciser l'article de la constitution autorisant l'éviction du ministre, mais sans évoquer le contexte l'ayant provoqué.
Selon la chaîne d'informations continues NTV cependant, ce limogeage trouve sa source dans un différend entre M. Cay et le président Devlet Baahceli au sujet d'un congrès organisé le week-end dernier à Istanbul par M. Cay sous l'égide de la Fondation pour la coopération, la fraternité et l'amitié des pays et des peuples turcs.
D'après NTV, M. Bahceli qui contrôle la fondation était opposé à la tenue de cette réunion, mais M. Cay serait passé outre et aurait en outre obtenu le soutien de l'ancien président de la République Suleyman Demirel.
L'an passé, le même congrès des peuples turcs avait invité comme "minorité" les indiens Sioux d'Amérique, ce qui avait causé un incident diplomatique entre Washington et Ankara. (AFP, 24 décembre 2001)
L'affaire du Refah devant une Grande Chambre à Strasbourg
La Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme, qui a jugé en juillet que la dissolution du parti islamiste Refah en Turquie ne violait pas la Convention européenne des droits de l'Homme, soumettra à nouveau cette requête à une Grande chambre, a-t-on appris jeudi auprès de l'avocat du parti.
La Cour vient en effet d'accepter la demande des avocats de renvoyer l'affaire devant les 17 juges de la Grande Chambre qui l'examineront dans un délai non précisé