Droits de l'Homme / Human Rights

L’état de santé de maître Behic Asci s’aggrave

L’état de santé de l’avocat Behiç Asci en grève de la faim au finish depuis 267 jours pour des conditions de détenions humaines dans les mouroirs de type F s’aggrave. Parallèlement, la mobilisation prend une nouvelle dimension. Dernièrement, 1000 avocats ont défilés à Ankara pour soutenir les demandes de Maître Behiç Asçi. Ils ont demandé à ce que l’on considère la question de manière scientifique : l’isolement carcéral provoque de graves troubles de santé, cela devrait être suffisant pour que l’on révise ce régime.

Des artistes qui se sont rassemblés dans une formation contre l’isolement carcéral mènent des actions régulières. En effet, plus d’une centaine d’artistes, chanteurs et autres écrivains ont signé une déclaration commune appelant la fin de l’isolement carcéral. Des noms très prestigieux y figure. Dernièrement, Behiç Asci a même reçu la visite du grand auteur Yasar Kemal qui lui a témoigné son affection et qui a réaffirmer qu’il ferait tout ce qui est en son pouvoir pour le faire vivre.

La mère de Behiç Asçi et les familles des prisonniers misent en garde à vue : la négation des autorités continue.

Quelques jours auparavant, le 22 décembre, les familles de TAYAD dont la mère de Behiç Asçi –Neziha Erdogan- s’étaient enchaînées aux grilles de la résidence du premier ministre à Ankara. Elles ont très vite été placées en garde à vue. Les familles ont tout de même pu exprimer leur colère pendant une dizaine de minutes en hurlant : « Mettez fin à l’isolement ». Après toute cette mobilisation, le ministre de la justice, Cemil Ciçek, a été obligé de répondre aux nombreuses missives. Mais il a montré combien la vie d’un être humain n’avait pas de valeur pour sa personne en ignorant les déclarations des juristes, des chambres de métiers, du corps médical pour défendre le régime en place. Il insiste sur le fait que cette réforme a été réalisée pour être en accord avec les normes européennes. Pour lui, l’isolement n’est qu’une fiction, les revendications ne sont donc qu’une façon de pouvoir exister pour une organisation terroriste et ses sympathisants. Il rappelle qu’alors qu’il est possible d’avoir recours à des moyens légaux, les prisonniers préfèrent (!) faire le jeûne de la mort. Quand à Behiç Asçi, il l’accuse d’être l’avocat d’un mouvement terroriste. Il finit par user de démagogie en prétendant que les détenus sont tout simplement nostalgique de l’ère des dortoirs, et qu’ils ne veulent pas autre chose.

Behiç Asçi a alors répondu au ministère qu’il fallait qu’il mette enfin un terme à la démagogie dont il fait preuve depuis 7 ans. Il a démonté point par point la déclaration du ministère et a rappelé qu’un seul pas suffirait pour mettre fin aux traitements inhumains. Les « améliorations » dont se vente l’Etat ne représentent rien à ses yeux. En effet, c’est dans une perspective « d’amélioration » que l’on a mené l’opération « retour à la vie » le 19 décembre 2000 où 30 détenus ont trouvés la mort dans les prisons turques. Il exige non pas des promesses floues, mais des pas concrets en vu de l’établissement de conditions de détentions humaines. Quand à l’accusation du ministère consistant à dire que soutenir les grèves de la faim c’est soutenir une organisation terroriste, et définissant maître Asci comme « l’avocat d’une organisation terroriste », il répond que cette basse manœuvre est un classique des autorités. Il réaffirme qu’il est vain de chercher quelconque organisation derrière ce mouvement des grèves de la faim. Il s’agit tout simplement d’un mouvement devenu populaire qui a pour objectif de résoudre un problème relatif à la dignité humaine ; le corps médical, les chambres de métiers, des syndicats, artistes sont représenté dans cette manifestation. Ces derniers sont-ils des terroristes ? Behiç Asçi pose la question et y répond par la même occasion ; « si le ministre veut qualifier quelqu’un de terroriste, qu’il emploi le mot pour lui-même ». Il indique que la grève de la faim a commencé justement parce que les autorités n’ont pas avancé d’un seul pas. Cette grève n’est autre que l’unique moyen trouvé pour faire entendre les revendications. Ayşe Düzkan, écrivain, a publié il y a peu un livre intitulé « le livre Behiç Asçi » : l’avocat demande alors si cet auteur est aussi terroriste.

Maître Asci signale qu’il n’a pas la prétention de détruire l’Etat, qu’il attend simplement un pas concret. (deniz-demirkapi@hotmail.com, 30 décembre 2006)

Lynchers Go Free While Lynched is Condemned

Five members of the Solidarity Association of Prisoners' Families (TAYAD) and 11 other who tried to lynch them while distributing pamphlets in Trabzon back in April are acquitted.

On the other hand, the court condemned TAYAD member Cetin Guvenc to 4 months in prison plus damages for "insulting the security forces".

Guvenc's lawyer Taylan Tanay told bianet that the case was fouled, the ruling was given without considering all the facts.

The court's decision abides to the assumption that "it's not factual that the alleged crime was committed by the offenders standing trial".

Tanay commented, "that the aim of the court was to release the offenders, not to punish them". Anxious that this ruling will encourage further lynching, Tanay said that they will appeal for the decision.

On April 6 this year, 5 members of TAYAD in Trabzon distributing a leaflet about the isolation and hunger strikes in prisons were nearly lynched by a crowd consisting of nationalists.

The events then were sparked off when several people, alleged later to be plainclothes policemen by leftwing activists, shouted out in the town that the group had "burned the Turkish flag" and were "members of the pro-Kurdish guerilla group PKK".

Shortly after, local televisions carried the news that a Turkish flag had been burned down in the town bringing together a over a thousand people who attacked the TAYAD group which escaped from the beating by seeking shelter in a business center that was surrounded by the crowd.

The TAYAD members were then escorted out by the police and placed under custody after which five were arrested.

A subsequent attack occurred on April 11 when TAYAD members from different cities tried to make a press statement in the town center protesting the previous incident.

Lastly, TAYAD members were attacked by an angry crowd in a central park in the Black Sea town of Trabzon on June 25 while attempting to read out a press statement protesting conditions in the enhanced security F-type prisons.

The mob, numbering around 500, used fists and broken legs from chairs and tables to assault the TAYAD members in what the national media has dubbed as "a new lynch attempt" in recollection of a similar incident in April where five TAYAD members were nearly lynched.

The TAYAD group, fearing for their lives, sought temporary shelter under police protection in the public toilets of the Meydan Park and had to be forced out afterwards by policemen to board an armored vehicle that took them to the Trabzon police centre. (BIA, Ayca ORER, December 27, 2006)

Parliament speaker met with Hunger-striker Behic Asci's family

Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc on Tuesday called on a lawyer who has refused food for 265 days in protest of high-security prisons to immediately end his protest, promising a review of prison conditions in the new year.

Arinc met with family members of Behic Asci, who has been refusing solid foods -- but not liquids -- since April 5, in a self-proclaimed "death fast" to protest conditions in the F-type maximum security prisons, where inmates are kept in one- or three-person cells. Human rights groups say prisoners are sometimes kept in solitary confinement and the cells provide very little opportunity for interaction between prisoners, leaving them isolated and vulnerable.

"Behic Asci must end this struggle which he calls a 'death fast,' that has been continuing for 265 days," Arinc said. "We want this death fast to end so that he may regain his health."

"We have seen the problems of F-type prisons and cell system," he said. "We saw that prisoners and convicts are kept away from social activities, families cannot meet their relatives one-on-one, some inhumane situations occur due to safety measures. Some prisoners even sink into depression due to the system. We should examine all problems individually and improve the situation."

Arinc noted that during 2007 budget debates in Parliament, the justice minister said he is open to discuss this topic while some changes can made to improve the situations. "The Parliament Speaker's Office is steering clear of any ideological fights. We think the most important thing is human life. With the support of the Human Rights Commission and non-governmental organizations we will investigate the issue."

"If he ends his hunger strike, I want to say that in the first week of January, a delegation will work on the issue," Arinc promised.

Asci's mother Fazilet Erdogan however, doubted Arinc's pledge would convince her son. "My son is as obstinate as I am," Erdogan said. "I don't think he will end the death fast until the isolation (of prisoners) is lifted." (The New Anatolian, 27 December 2006)

NGOs and lawyers voice support for Behic Asci on hunger strike

A group of lawyers visited acting Parliament Speaker Ismail Alptekin at his office to discuss lawyer Behic Asci, who has been on a hunger strike for 265 days to protest F-type high-security prisons and voice concerns of his clients spending time in these facilities.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Istanbul Bar member Kemal Aytac said, "On the one hand we have a colleague on a hunger strike and on the other we have an isolation problem which is also the reason for Asci's protest."

Aytac complained of "inhuman" treatment in the prisons and presented reports showing similar views expressed by the Turkish Doctors Union (TTB), Architects' and Engineers' Chamber, various bars and non-governmental organizations.

"While all these institutions say it exists, some are saying there is no isolation. This has to be dealt with. To improve the situation, advice from these institutions should be considered," said Aytac, in response to earlier remarks by Justice Minister Cemil Cicek who denied there was isolation in the prisons.

Acting Parliament Speaker Alptekin, who is also a lawyer, said, "First of all we are anxious about the life of our colleague. Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, who also worked as a lawyer for many years, has defended human rights in all platforms. He is also vigorously working to solve this situation."

Alptekin said that Arinc will pay a visit to Asci and his family on Wednesday. It is said that Arinc decided to meet Asci following letters from NGOs demanding he improve conditions in F-type prisons.

Some 17 NGOs and 23 writers sent a joint letter to Arinc seeking a solution to the problems of F-type prisons. The letter said that, including prisoners and relatives, 122 people have died in the fight against conditions in F-type prisons

"Imprisonment is obviously a deprivation of enjoyment of rights and freedoms but isolation is more like a penalty within penalty. Isolation is a practice that is against all legal regulations and it deserves a political reaction. Such a subject which has caused the loss of lives, requires social responsibility," said the letter.

Another group of jurists gathered in front of the Ankara Court House to voice their concerns about Behic Asci's hunger strike and F-type prisons. Contemporary Jurists' Association head Huseyin Yuksel Bicen asked for a study group to be formed by members of the Justice Ministry, bars and business chambers to seek a solution to the isolation problem in F-type high security prisons.

Beginning the death fast on April 5, International Lawyer's Day, Asci is on a hunger strike as an act of defiance against what he describes as "unjust" laws and as a stand of solidarity with hundreds of Turkish political prisoners denied their most basic human rights, and a call for solidarity to human rights supporters around the world.

According to Asci, prisoners in F-type prisons typically suffer from a range of psychological illnesses including stress, anxiety and depression. The authorities also routinely deny prisoners medical assistance and access to legal representation. Prisoners are arbitrarily refused visits from family members that they are legally entitled to, he said. Their books, newspapers and other reading material are confiscated, he charged, and letters sent to their families are heavily censored. (The New Anatolian, 26 December 2006)

TIHV's urgent appeal for a solution to the prisons' problem

In the year 2000, six years ago, an operation had been conducted under the name “Return to Life” to solve the prisons’ problem and to end the death fast action against the F-type prisons. While the negotiation had still been ongoing to stop the action the government had repeatedly announced that they would not conduct an operation. However, in the morning of 19 December 2000 at 04.30am the operation had been started simultaneously in 20 prisons against thousands of prisoners. 32 persons died and hundreds of prisoners were wounded during the so-called “Return to Life” operation.

Deaths During the “Return to Life” Operation on 19 December :

Bayrampaşa: Cengiz Çalıkoparan, Ali Ateş, Mustafa Yılmaz, Murat Ördekçi, Nilüfer Alcan, Fırat Tavuk, Aşur Korkmaz, Şefinur Tezgel, Yazgülü Güder Öztürk, Gülser Tuzcu, Seyhan Doğan, Özlem Ercan.
Ümraniye: Ahmet İbili, Ercan Polat, Umut Gedik, Alp Ata Akçagöz, Rıza Poyraz, Haydar Akbaba, Muharrem Buldukoğlu.
Çanakkale: Fidan Kalşen, Fahri Sarı, Sultan Sarı, İlker Babacan.
Bursa: Murat Özdemir.
Çankırı: İrfan Ortakçı, Hasan Güngörmez, Ali İhsan Özkan.
Uşak: Berrin Bıçkılar, Yasemin Cancı.
Ceyhan: Halil Önder.
Soldiers: Nurettin Kurt [Ümraniye], Mustafa Mutlu [Çanakkale]

Most of the investigations started after the operation in connection with the incident in the prisons on the allegations of excessive use of force, torture and ill-treatment had been ended with the decision of non-prosecution. On the other hand court cases were launched against the prisoners. Although the reports prepared by Forensic Institute and independent experts had proved that the security forces had fired by pointing the prisoners only few cases had been launched against the security forces after overcoming several judicial obstacles. After 6 years these cases are still ongoing.

After the “Return to Life” operation many investigations were started on the allegations of excessive use of force, torture and ill-treatment. The investigation started in connection with the incidents in Bartin, Ceyhan, Elbistan and Malatya prisons were ended with the decision of non-prosecution. The cases launched in connection with the incidents in Bayrampasa, Ümraniye and Çanakkale prisons against the prisoners and security forces are still on going. In Bayrampasa cases 167 prisoners and 933 securty forces, In Ümraniye cases 399 prisoners and 276 security forces, in Çanakkale cases 154 prisoners and 563 security forces are on trial.

The so-called “Return to Life” operation led to death of 32 persons and also could not finish the death fast action. In fact the operation caused death of more than 130 persons in connection with the F-type prisons and isolation problem. Death fast action is still ongoing today.

Death fast action in the prisons started on 20 October 2000. Due to death fast 48 prisoners died in the prisons, 13 persons died after having been released and 7 persons died during solidarity death fast action. The total sum of persons including the deaths during prisons’ operation who died in connection with the F-type prisons problem exceeded 130.

Unfortunately, prisons’ problem in Turkey could not be solved. After the operation the prisoners had been transferred to F-type prisons where they are serving there under isolation conditions. Scientific research had been made for years on the effect of isolation and the negative effects of isolation are known for years. Isolation in the prisons is inhuman and a human rights violation for its results.

General condition, bans on visits, books and papers, problems related to health and clothing in F-type prisons are serious obstacles for the moral and physical integrity and personality of prisoners. The researches on isolation proved that it has destructive effects on psychological health. Human beings need adequate sensual and social stimulus to be able to continue psychic, physiological and social life. According to the scientific researches lack of stimulus leads to certain symptoms. The longer the isolation is and the more insufficient the stimulus are the more destructive the effects are and the more serious psychological problems are.

4004 persons who served in F-type prisons applied to TIHV between 2003 and 2005. 203 applicants had psychiatric interview. Most of them were suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

Six years after the “Return to Life” operation we call firstly the government and also all parties to start negotiation and to find a way to solve the prisons’ problem in Turkey. We also want the cases related to the operation should be concluded the soonest possible.

Yavuz Önen
President
Human Rights Foundation of Turkey
December 19, 2006

Dispersion violente d'une manifestation le 1er mai: la Turquie condamnée

La Turquie a été condamnée jeudi par la Cour des droits de l'homme pour des mauvais traitements infligés à cinq personnes lors de la dispersion d'une manifestation le 1er mai 1998 à Istanbul.

Les juges de Strasbourg ont estimé qu'il y avait eu violation de l'article 3 (interdiction des traitements inhumains) de la Convention européenne. Ils ont alloué pour dommage corporel et moral, 12.000 euros à Seza Horoz et Güzel Sahin et 5.000 euros à Önder Dolutas, Birsen Gülünay et Gülizar Sahin.

Le 1er mai 1998, lors d'une manifestation organisée pour la Fête du travail, des heurts s'étaient produits à Istanbul où 36 policiers avaient été blessés et 261 personnes arrêtées et placées en garde à vue, dont les requérants.

Le jour même de leur interpellation, ces derniers firent l'objet d'un examen médical qui révéla des ecchymoses, enflures ou érythème.

En juin 1999, le procureur avait rendu un non-lieu concernant leurs plaintes pour mauvais traitements, estimant que le recours à la force avait été rendu nécessaire pour disperser cette manifestation. Une cour d'assises avait rejeté leur recours un an plus tard.

La CEDH a jugé jeudi dans son arrêt qu'il n'était pas établi que l'usage de la force "était absolument nécessaire" à la dispersion d'un rassemblement considéré comme illégal. (AFP, 21 déc 2006)

Protest against Ultra Right Terror in Universities

Violence in universities does not come to an end. Many students have been injured and tens of them have been arrested in ultra nationalits “Ülkücü” violence. Mersin University Professional Training School had to give a break to education. NGOs protested the attacks. DİSK and KESK trade union confederations, TMMOB the professional society of architects and engineers, TTB doctor’s association, Ankara 78' Generation Association, political parties ÖDP, EMEP and SDP, Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association, Halkevleri community centers, Patriotic Front and many others held a joint protest in Ankara. (antenna-tr.org, December 21, 2006)

5 Months Prison Sentence to Human Rights Defenders Under 301

Human Rights Association İstanbul former branch chairwoman Kiraz Biçici and IHD Bingöl branch chairman Rıdvan Kızgın received 5 months prison sentence under article 301 and it was commuted to a fine of 350 TL over speeches they made during a visit to Bingol IHD branch in 2003.

4 peasants were killed in Bingöl and those killed were claimed to be PKK militants. IHD Bingöl branch had made a press release a week before that incident that a group of PKK militants fdressed up as peasant were going round in villages asking for food. Then city chairman of IHD Bingöl branch Rıdvan Kızgın had received a threat call from someone who said to be the City Military Unit Commander.

IHD İstanbul city chairwoman Kiraz Biçici visited Bingöl to support Kızgın and they held a meeting in Bingöl IHD condemning the incident and the threat. The case is will be appealed. (antenna-tr.org, December 21, 2006)

Behic Asci: I will stop Death Fast When Isolation Ends

Behic Asci who is on his 260th day of death fast answered the calls to stop his action by saying "Ministry of Justice should solve the isolation issue. We want humans to be humane, it is shameful to negotiate on that".

General Secretary of the oppositional party CHP Mehmet Sevigen called on Behic Asci asking him to stop his action. Asci said: "It would be better if Mr Sevigen put pressure on the minister to solve the problem. Since the reason of my death fast, isolation cells did not go away. There has been no initiatives on that so far. The ministry said nothing. They are talkin about improvement but it’s abstract.”

Asci also answered the head of Prisons Department Kenan İpek. İpek had said "I can not understand this one man action. We will talk if he stops". Aşçı said: "I have tried everything in the last 6 yeras. Cases, complaints, press meetings, protest narches and demonstrations... I have done everything that a lawyer could do with no conclusion. That is why I began this action. İpek should solve the problem. Why does not the ministry make any concrete suggestion. I am not asking fır the keys of the prsons. I wan humane conditions." (antenna-tr.org, December 20, 2006)

DTP denounces PM, justice minister in support for lawyer Asci

A pro-Kurdish party official yesterday denounced both the premier and the justice minister, claiming they are ignoring a months-long hunger strike by a lawyer.

Democratic Society Party (DTP) Kars provincial head Mahmut Alinak, one of the most vocal figures in the party, filed complaints with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek.

The official said that the two were guilty of ignoring lawyer Behic Asci's hunger strike to protest F-type high security prisons and voice concerns of his clients spending their time there.

Beginning the death fast on April 5, International Lawyer's Day, Asci said that his strike is as an act of defiance against unjust laws, a stand of solidarity with hundreds of Turkish political prisoners denied their most basic human rights, and a courageous call for solidarity from human rights supporters around the world.

According to Asci, prisoners in the F-type prisons typically suffer from a range of psychological illnesses including stress, anxiety and depression. The authorities also routinely deny prisoners medical assistance and access to legal representation. Prisoners are arbitrarily refused visits from family members that they are legally entitled to, he said. Their books, newspapers and other reading material are confiscated, he charged, and letters sent to their families are heavily censored.

Alinak said in a written statement that Asci is approaching death and that it is the responsibility of the premier and the justice minister to put an end to this torture through abolishing F-type prisons.

Also yesterday, Mehmet Sevigen, a main opposition Republican People's Party Istanbul deputy, called on Asci from the Parliament platform to end his hunger strike.

Sevigen stated that Asci has achieved his aim and called on him to stop his hunger strike. "You have made headlines; you've reached your aim. If you stop the strike, the conflict between you and the justice minister may be solved," the deputy said. (The New Anatolian, 20 December 2006)

L'anniversaire de l'opération sanglante contre des prisonniers politiques

La Maison Populaire de Genève vient de diffuser la lettre ouverte à l'occasion du 7e anniversaire de l'opération "Retour à la Vie" pour écraser la résistance des prisonniers politiques contre l’introduction du régime d’isolation (prisons de type F).

Le 20 octobre 2000, plusieurs centaines de prisonniers commençaient une grève de la faim, en protestation contre l’introduction du régime d’isolation (prisons de type F).

Du 19 au 22 décembre 2000 (dès 4 heures du matin), il y a deux ans, les autorités turques lançaient leurs troupes à l’assaut d’une vingtaine de prisons, après 61 jours de grève de la faim.

Près de 10'000 soldats, policiers et membres des unités d’élite s’attaquaient, à l’aide de bulldozer, hélicoptères, lance-flammes, gaz fumigènes et armes lourdes, à des femmes et hommes épuisés et sans défense. Bilan officiel des opérations : 28 prisonniers politiques abattus et des centaines de blessés.

Depuis sept ans, le gouvernement turc n’a pas répondu aux revendications des prisonniers pour arrêter l’isolement dans les prisons, et de mettre fin aux jeûnes à morts qui continuent encore à l’heure actuelle, de ce fait, l’Etat turc est responsable de la mort de 122 personnes.

M. Behiç AŞÇI, avocat, est en jeûne à mort depuis environ 250 jours à  Sisli / Istanbul. Mme. Gülcan GÖRÜROĞLU et Mme. Sevgi SAYMAZ est en jeûne à mort depuis 220 jours. Depuis, le 19 décembre 2000, il y a eu 122 personnes qui sont  mort, 600 personnes sont resté handicapées. Ne restons pas sous silence face à cette hécatombe, luttons ensemble pour arrêter les décès !

Selon Maître Behiç AŞÇI « Dans un pays où y n’a aucun Etat de droit, la résistance est légitime ». Celui-ci a commencé le jeûne à mort pour lutter contre l’isolement dans les prisons carcérales et lutter contre la continuation des décès. Mme. Gülcan GÖRÜROĞLU et Mme. Sevgi SAYMAZ participe à cette grève pour mettre fin à la torture dans les prisons. Ne laissons pas ces personnes à la mort sans agir !

En tant qu’Association Maison Populaire de Genève, nous partageons l’opinion et la lutte de M. Behiç AŞÇI, Mme Gülcan GÖRÜROĞLU et Mme. Sevgi SAYMAZ pour mettre fin à l’isolement carcéral.
En tant que défenseurs et dépositaires des Droits de l’Homme, nous vous invitons encore une fois à faire votre devoir et à envoyer immédiatement une délégation d'observateurs en Turquie. Ne pas agir en ce sens signifie clairement partager la responsabilité de tous les prisonniers politiques qui décéderont.

Demir Sönmez, Président de la Maison Populaire de Genève, le 19 décembre 2007
(Pour plus informations : www.assmp.org <http://www.assmp.org/>

301 case over demanding that 1 May 1977 massacre file to be reopened

Ethem Dinçer chairman of Mersin 78' Generation Association is cahrged under article 301 and 216 (inciting hatred among the people and insulting Turkish Republic and its organs) over a press statement he made.

Dinçer had demanded on 28 April 2006 that the case of 1 May 1977 massacre to be opened. There was a mass killing on May the 1st 1977 during mayday demonstration in İstanbul’s Taksim Square leaving tens of people dead.

Perpetrators have not been found yet. Members of the association countrywide will inform the prosecutors tomorrow declaring that they too committed the same act participating in Dinçer’s crime. (antenna-tr.org, December 15, 2006)

University Teachers: “Don’t Touch My Student”

University teachers and student protested the increasing attacks in universities. Teachers Union Eğitim Sen Ankara Branch organised a protest march declaring they would not surrender to intimidation.

Around 150 teacher, research assistant and student held a silent march to the town center. University teachers opened a banner “Don’t Touch My Student” protesting thye violence and gangs in universities.

Ayten Alkan teacher at Political Sciences Faculty said univesities are attempeted to be drawn into an environment of violence and academics are theratened and attacked for their academic work and opinion. Alkan said that the students were attacked and lacked security.

Alkan added that the fascist mentality behind the attacks thrived on violence and targetted universities, an anvironment of freedom of thought and peace and the fraternity among different etnic groups.

Students also marched in Ege University. Around 400 people organised a march in the campus protesting chauvinistic hysteria. (antenna-tr.org, December 15, 2006)

Lawyer Behic Asci's Hunger Strike Closing to Death

Lawyer Behic Asci, who pursues a hunger strike since April 5 for the abolition of isolation practices in F-type imprisonment facilities, criticizes news that he's linked to a far-leftist group as "provocative".  Already 122 people died at hunger strike since the introduction of the F-type facilities in December 2000.

The protesters demand partial improvements in existing practices while government forms a work group with NGOs and experts for a definitive solution to the problem.

Turkey's Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) report showed many prisoners suffer from psychological trauma and distress resulting from the isolation policies in facilities. The Bar Association of Istanbul made a statement today calling the government to end denial and save their colleagues from death.

Several NGOs, workers' unions, intellectuals and artists came together last week to make a call to the Minister of Justice to act before Ahci's strike reaches to its evident end. Union of Turkish Doctors (TTB) chair Gencay Gürsoy said that the government is insisting on a policy of denial.

Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK) general secretary Suleyman Celebi noted that a democratization process, which would allow different thought to exist in Turkey must continue.

The platform, including writers, artists and academics made a declaration demanding an execution system compatible with international standards. (BIA News Center, December 13, 2006)
 
250th day of Behiç Asci’s hunger strike

We, the İstanbul Indymedia volunteers, want to get your attention for the ongoing isolation torture in Turkey. A lawyer, Behiç Asci, protesting the silence of the state as well as NGOs and public is going to die for he is on a hunger strike. All of us who have been silent regarding the case will bear the burden of this action if Asci turns out to be just another in more than 120 persons who died/was killed in protest of F-type prisons since 1996 in Turkey. On 13th of December, it was 250th day of Asci’s strike, and we do not want this beautiful man to pass away.

Judicial execution through F-type prisons takes on place in Turkey since 2000. Human rights defenders, NGOs and barristers have stood against the F-type prisons project, before it was put into practice by force. After political prisoners refused to be placed in these prisons, the state kicked off a series of simultaneous operations among nearly 20 prisons in Turkey on December 19, 2000. Heavy construction equipments, many security troops and soldiers got into the prisons using guns and chemical weapons to take prisoners to F-type prisons by force, during the operations deliberate force was used on prisoners and many prisoners were put into isolated cells despite the fact that they were soaking wet and heavily injured and 28 prisoners along with two soldiers had passed away.

F-type prison cells along with moderated E-type prison cells are based on individual or small-group isolation of prisoners; where ventilation, communication, visiting, health, defense and many other indispensable human rights are subject to usurpation under the name “amendment sanctions” and any efforts to go after such human rights abuses by the prisoners are either refused arbitrarily and/or punished by prison administrative authorities. No criminal complaints regarding the human rights abuses in this sense are let be taken to the authorities.

Among some of the many things that are prohibited at F-type prisons are talking while playing volleyball, archiving newspapers, listening to music from walkman, wearing garments brought by visitors. Also, the colors of the prisoners’ underwear are limited in case they make flags out of them, the flowers pasted on letters are deemed as reasons to tear the letters. Specifically petitions or letters complaining from the deeds of administrative or military personnel are hindered to be sent to lawyers or families of the prisoners. Photo albums are not permitted. Medical treatments for prisoners are impeded by unacceptable practices. The prisoners are not allowed to exchange books or lend money or garments, or keep more than three books at hand. Moreover, the use common lebensraums depend on a certain political view of the prisoners. Three to four times a day prisoners are forced to wear off their shoes and controlled, disquieted for any reasons, exposed to high-volume music, and similar humiliating acts during controls. And these are only a few of many inhuman daily practices observed at F-type prisons.

Such an execution model is an additional type of punishment exerted over prisoners unlawfully and is against humanity. 122 persons have passed away since 2000 in protests against F-type prisons and isolation practices at prisons. More than 600 were injured permanently physically or psychologically.

NGOs, trade unions and human rights defenders that have prepared reports and gone through researches on insulation and isolation at prisons so far all agree that F-type prisons are used for torture, cause irreversible damage on convicts’ and prisoners’ physical and psychological well-being, cultural and political identities.

Isolation practices but abstract individuals from any type of social relations are against the human nature and humanity. Turkey’s government and ministers of justice have done nothing to bring a solution to the problem so far but postpone them, and even closed the channels for dialogue. The government put the new law on execution into practice, which even adds to the current burden of isolation of prisoners. 

The point reached as of today is nothing but a bunch of problems due to unlawful practices by the Ministry of Justice against the articles in the Turkey’s constitution that guarantees the right to live and the right to protect honour; against any human rights agreements, international law norms.

On April 5, Barrister Behiç Asci, who is a member of People’s Law Bureau and of Administrative Board of Contemporary Lawyers’ Association started death strike with the demand to abolish the isolation in his house in Istanbul. Similar actions - both in and outside prisons - against isolation continue.

The government should immediately take the required steps to halt further deaths and defects. By “steps” the following is implied: The Minister of Justice, Cemil Çiçek, should accept the reality that isolation practice is “subject to discussion” and meet with the spokespersons of the initiative against isolation. Until the discussion period is finalised, the problem should not be made harder with new practices. During this period, fundamental isolation practices of quantity and kind that would necessitate a discussion platform should be given up. 

ACT NOW!

Write your messages to Turkey’s Minister of Justice, Cemil Cicek urging him to make a step for a solution to the ongoing tragedy regarding abuses and deaths due to f-type prisons in Turkey.

Please circulate this call as widely as possible.

ADDRESS AND SEND YOUR APPEALS TO:

Minister of Justice
Cemil Çiçek

e-mail: fkasirga@adalet.gov.tr 
Web site: www.adalet.gov.tr
Fax: +90 312 4177113

Address: T.C. Adalet Bakanlığı, 06659, Kızılay, Ankara
(Istanbul Indymedia, December 13, 2006)

ECHR's November bill for Turkey is 400,000 euros

Turkey was ordered to pay nearly 400,000 euros by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in eight cases last month, reports said yesterday.

The court, which focused on complaints of violations of the right to live, expression and association, delivered two verdicts condemning Turkey's now defunct military courts and military prosecutors judging civilians.
 
The court ordered the country to pay 2,000 euros to Koray Duzgoren, a journalist working for daily Yeni Safak, who applied to the court eight years ago, asking for the reversal of a domestic military court decision that imposed both fines and prison term over charges of disinclining people from fulfilling their military service. The ECHR asserted that the Turkish court was not neutral or independent and violated the right of expression and fair judgment.
 
In another decision Turkey was ordered to pay 2,500 euros for the trial expenses of Mehmet Cemal Kavak, the former branch head of the now-defunct pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HADEP), who was found guilty by the disbanded State Security Court on charges of aiding and abetting an illegal organization at a demonstration in 1997.
 
The Turkish court handed down prison terms of almost four years but the Strasbourg court said in its decision mid-November that the court violated the right to fair judgment as it had a military public prosecutor.
 
The heaviest decision against Turkey came over a case launched by relatives of Engin Huylu, imprison after being found guilty of being a member of an illegal organization eight years ago and later died allegedly due to psychological and physical oppression he faced. Despite being admitted to hospital, twice he missed scheduled treatment due to staff shortages.
 
The court ordered Turkey to pay 20,000 euros --15,000 in damages and 5,000 for trial expenses -- in the case launched by Huylu's relatives who claimed they received less than they were entitled to under the law in the case heard by a Turkish court against the prison administration, the gendarmerie and health personnel. (The New Anatolian , December 12, 2006)

The European Left's appeal on Behic Asci's fatal situation

The Executive Board of the Party of the European Left has sent to the Turkish Government the following urgent appeal concerning the fatal situation of Lawyer Behic Asci on hunger strike in protest against prison conditions.

"The Executive Board of the Party of the European Left was informed of the situation of lawyer Behic Asci, advocate of defence of detainees in Turkish prisons, who has already exceeded the 240 days of hunger strike and his situation seems fatal.

"Independently from the Turkish authorities' opinion regarding his chosen  method of protest, the sole fact that one advocate of defence of detainees feels he suffocates in his effort to practice his professional duty and the fact that a human life enters at risk compels us all to react.

"We demand therefore from the Turkish Government to act immediately.

"A human Life remains always an irreplaceable value that cannot be compensated nor with fabricated arguments neither with political intentions.

"This constitutes a fundamental value for any discussion on the culture that the humanity needs nowadays.

"Moreover whatever the opinion of the Turkish State on the political beliefs of Behic Asci and the defendants that he undertook to protect, the responsibility of the Turkish Government remains in totality, in order to ensure their terms on the unbiased exercise of vocation of advocate of defence.

"First condition for this is the protection of the life of Behic Asci."

Le jeune pâtre avait sauté sur une mine: la Turquie condamnée

La Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme a condamné mardi la Turquie pour avoir violé le "droit à la vie" d'Erkan Erol, un enfant de neuf ans blessé par une mine antipersonnel en 1995 alors qu'il faisait paître ses moutons.

Elle alloue 30.505 euros tous dommages confondus à la victime, aujourd'hui âgée de 20 ans, concluant que la Turquie n'avait pas pris toutes les mesures nécessaires afin d'éviter un danger de mort ou de blessure.

Le 11 mai 1995, les moutons qu'Erkan faisait paître à Tunceli avaient pénétré dans une zone minée entourée d'une double rangée de fils barbelés placés à hauteur de la taille et de panneaux de mise en garde tous les 20 mètres.

Erkan et d'autres enfants avaient poursuivi les moutons en franchissant les barbelés. Il ramassa un engin qui explosa et dut être amputé d'une jambe à hauteur du genou.

L'arrêt de la CEDH reconnaît une atteinte au droit à la vie d'Erkan Erol, qui aurait pu mourir de cet accident, estimant "incompréhensible qu'une zone de pâturage ait été minée et simplement entourée de deux rangées de fils barbelés relativement écartées".

Les juges ont en revanche estimé qu'il n'y avait pas eu violation du "droit à un procès équitable" concernant une requête formulée par son père, qui était alors maire du village de Tuncelli. Sa fonction d'édile lui faisait obligation "d'alerter la gendarmerie de l'insuffisance des mesures prises et d'exiger des mesures supplémentaires", selon l'arrêt. (AFP, 12 déc 2006)

Rise of nationalism, discrimination and intolerance in Turkey

A prominent human rights group over the weekend called on the state to punish public servants overlooking or encouraging violence and cooperative attacks which has turned into a hot issue in the country for months.

Evaluating the current state of human rights in Turkey in a statement to mark the World Human Rights Day, Yavuz Onen, head of the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) criticized the rise of nationalism, discrimination and intolerance to the other.

Onen stated that many journalists and authors are intimidated and attacked because of their statements, and he said that there is tension between the Cabinet and other actors of public.

He also pointed already raised tension to the members or sympathizers of the terrorist Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), and said that scores of people, who has no ties with the terror group, were attacked for allegedly being member of it.

He also criticized the attitude of certain public servants and key state officials encouraging violence.

A couple of governors and the Istanbul Police Chief drew the ire of public as well as human rights activists for their remarks seemingly backing perpetrators of cooperative attacks against mostly reportedly pro-PKK, Kurdish or left-wing groups.

Onen said that none of the governments, including the current one, had a stable program and a powerful will in the way of democratization, and that there is currently an attitude both in politicians and in public to see every step in the democratization as home works in the process of European Union membership rather than discussing the steps in terms of the needs of the country.

Onen also criticized the Justice and Development (AK) Party for severing relationships with civil groups while country passes through hard times in terms of human rights and the military for making displeasing statements on human rights.

TIHV reveals this year's human rights records

The TIHV, which also revealed data on human rights violations, said that between October 2005 and October 2006 62 people were killed in incidents which security officers used firearms.

42 people were also killed in armed and bomb attacks organized either by terrorist groups or by unknown perpetrators.

It is also stated that between the same period two people died in custody, and over 100 people filed complaints, applied to human rights associations or made statements to the media with claim that they were subjected to torture. In prisons, where the pressure is on the rise, 14 people died as a result of hunger strike, suicide or diseases.

Also in the first 10 months of this year, at least 112 authors, publishers, journalists faced legal proceedings because of their writings.

Underlining the importance of cooperation between governments and NGOs, Onen said that already enacted torture ban should be followed literally and barriers before freedom of expression should be lifted.

TBB head Ozok pledges to fight for further rights

In another written statement, Turkish Bars Association (TBB) head Ozdemir Ozok said that the human rights debates will go on unless the outmoded administration is removed.

Ozok stated that they will carry on their struggle for full democracy, human rights and for state of law. (The New Anatolian-Anka, 11 December 2006)

Nouvelles opérations répressives "anti-terroristes" à Istanbul

Autorisée par la loi anti-terroriste, le 7 décembre 2006, la section antiterroriste de la police d'Istanbul a perquisitionné simultanément plusieurs sièges de revues, radios et associations considérées proches du Parti-Front révolutionnaire de libération du peuple (DHKP-C) et arrêté un "grand nombre" d'opposants.

Lors de l'opération, la police a pris comme cible notamment la revue Yürüyüs, la maison d'édition Ozan yayincilik, la Fédération des droits fondamentaux (THF), le Centre culturel d'Idil, le Front des droits et des libertés (HOC) et l'Association pour la solidarité avec les familles de prisonniers (TAYAD).

En réagissant contre cette opération policière, une centaine de manifestants ont tenté de bloquer plusieurs rues du quartier d'Okmeydani, sur la rive européenne d'Istanbul, et incendié deux véhicules.

Visages masqués, les manifestants ont ensuite jeté des pierres et des cocktails Molotov en direction des policiers - environ 200 agents anti-émeutes soutenus par deux blindés - dépêchés sur les lieux, qui ont riposté avec des grenades lacrymogènes et des frondes, contraignant les manifestants à se disperser.

Un autre groupe d'une centaine de personnes a érigé une barricade avec des morceaux de bois et des pneus auxquels il a mis le feu dans le quartier de Gaziosmanpasa, une banlieue de la rive occidentale d'Istanbul.

Les manifestants ont marché sur le commissariat local et jeté des pierres sur les blindés bloquant leur chemin à une cinquantaine de mètres du bâtiment avant de se disperser, tandis que les forces de sécurité faisaient usage de gaz lacrymogène.

Il y a deux mois, la section antiterroriste de la police d'Istanbul avait perquisitionné plusieurs sièges de revues, radios et associations considérées proches du parti communiste marxiste-léniniste (MLKP). (Agences, 8 décembre 2006)

Mauvais traitements en détention: la Turquie condamnée à Strasbourg

La Turquie a été condamnée mardi par la Cour européenne des droits de l'homme (CEDH) pour des mauvais traitements infligés à trois femmes suspectées d'appartenance à une organisation illégale pendant leur garde à vue.

Interpellées en mars 1998 dans le cadre d'une enquête sur les activités du parti communiste turc/marxiste léniniste, les trois requérantes affirmaient avoir été été menacées de mort, harcelées sexuellement, frappées, suspendues et arrosées de jets d'eau froide pendant leur détention provisoire.

Des ecchymoses et des tuméfactions avaient été constatées le 1er avril sur le corps de deux d'entre elles par un premier médecin tandis qu'un second mentionnait des lésions sur le dos de la troisième, examinée le lendemain alors qu'elle était détenue à la prison d'Ümraniye.
 La CEDH a estimé qu'en "l'absence d'explications plausibles" de la part du gouvernement turc, les blessures constatées ne pouvaient qu'être attribuées à des "traitements pour lesquels le gouvernement (turc) doit être réputé responsable".

Elle a conclu à une violation de l'article 3 (interdiction des traitements inhumains) de la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme et décidé d'allouer 10.000 euros à Mmes Selvi Dönmez et Leyla Lüle et 7.000 euros à Meral Sahin pour préjudice moral. (AFP, 5 déc 2006)

Human rights group calls for PM to keep pledge

In a letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Yavuz Onen, head of the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV), urged the payment of $10,000 in support that the premier promised this year for a torture victim fund.

"In order to realize zero tolerance to torture, you have to contribute more to the funds for torture victims," Onen told the premier in his letter.

Onen reminded the prime minister that the United Nations' Voluntary Funds for Victims of Torture (UNVFT), celebrating its 25th anniversary, supports torture victims through specialist institutions providing humanitarian aid to victims and their families. Onen added that the fund accepts the voluntary contributions of governments, non-governmental organizations, firms and individuals, yet to meet demands increasing every year, a doubling of their budget is required.

"Some funding centers are about to close down due to financial problems," said Onen. "The TIHV, which was established in 1990 to help people subjected to torture and other inhumane treatment or punishment, is also receiving assistance from UNVFT."

Stating that TIHV has reached out and assisted nearly 10,500 torture victims over 16 years through five rehabilitation centers opened in Adana, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Istanbul and Izmir, Onen said that the foundation also helps to eliminate torture and provide post-torture trauma through the statistics they collect. "Alternative medical reports from TIHV are accepted by international courts and the European Court of Human Rights as well," said Onen, adding that TIHV has become both a national and international reference institution.

Addressing the prime minister, Onen said that the government didn't contribute to UNVFT in 2003 and 2004, while under his leadership.

"You promised to contribute $10,000 to the fund this year," said Onen. "Although, some administrative and legal regulations have been made towards the approach, the expressed zero tolerance on torture hasn't been reflected enough in practice, they are of course very valuable and meaningful." Onen went on to say that in order to implement these regulations successfully, supplementary measures are needed.

"It's obvious that the country needs a well-rounded approach to realize its stated zero tolerance on torture. So the government, taking into account the hard work of our foundation, should be more sensitive about efforts to eliminate torture in our country and should grant more money to the UNVFT." (The New Anatolian, 5 December 2006)

Pression sur les médias / Pressure on the Media

Journalist Kapmaz Charged with ‘Praising Öcalan’

Istanbul 11th. High Criminal Court opened a case against the reporter of Ülkede Özgür Gündem daily Cengiz Kapmaz with the charge of “praising the PKK leader Öcalan and PKK in two news reports”. Kapmaz is asked to be imprisoned for 9.5 years.

The first case against Cengiz Kapmaz was over his report “2555 Days” telling the story of Öcalan’s prison days after his capture and opened on 15 February 2006. Kapmaz was charged under TPC 215 and 218 and was asked to be imprisoned for 4.5 years. The hearing is on 16 February 2007 in İstanbul 11th. High Criminal Court.

The second case against him is over an interview he made with former DEP MP Orhan Doğan. The interview was published on 22 June 2006. Kapmaz was charged with propagandating for the terrorist organisation under ATL 3713 articles 7-2 and was asked to be imprisoned for 5 years. (antenna-tr.org, December 29, 2006)

"The picture in Kaos GL is Art not Pornography”

At the first hearing of the case against Kaos GL magazine over its latest issue’s front page, judge decided to listen Taner Ceylan, the painter of the picture published on the front page. Attorneys Oya Aydın, Yasemin Öz and Hakan Yılmaz, and the owner of the magazine Umut Güner attended the first hearing on 28 December. Güner told Ankara 2nd. Criminal Court of First Instance that the magazine is a gay magazine and the picture on the front page was a work of art and not pornography and asked for his acquittal.

Defense attorney Oya Aydın said that under Press Law the owner of the magazine was not liable when the owner of the work is known and available. Attorney said the picture belonged to painter Taner Ceylan and he resided in İstanbul. The case was postponed to 28 February 2007.

Attorney said that the picture was displayed in exhibitons including İstanbul Culture Foundation exhibition, ART 37 in Switzerland’s city of Basel, the 8th. İstanbul Bienal supported by Prime Ministry and Ministry of Culture and was published in the bienal’s booklet. (antenna-tr.org, December 29, 2006)

Translators: We Censored Dostoyevski for Fear

Book translators protesting their prosecution over book translations said that some translations of Dostoyevski's 'Karamazovs' had been censored for years for fear of the laws.

Conference Interpreters Association, Trade Union of Book Translators (ÇEVBİR), Translation Association, Literature and Scientific Works Owners Trade Union (EDİSAM), Turkish PEN, Publishers Union (YAY-BİR), Turkish Publishers Union and Publishers Trade Union made a joint press statement at the offices of Turkish Journalists Society (TGC).

The president of ÇEVBİR Tuncay Birkan said that a translator just does his work, it was unacceptable to imprison a translator for translating or interpreting. The press statement said that the Press Law held translators liable as “the owner of the work” when writer is abroad.

Birkan noted that the Press Law carried the intention of self censoring of translators and publishers and they would visit politicans in the coming weeks to lobby for amendment. Translators demanded an amendment of article 2 of Press Law. (antenna-tr.org, December 27, 2006)

Internet Offences Under Focus

The new draft bill brings upto 12 years prison sentence for publishing child pornography, exporting, renting, and possession will cause upto 5 years imprisonment. Transport Ministry is setting up a “Internet Board” for inspection.

Transport Ministry accomplished a draft law regulating internet crimes. The Internet Board under the ministry will be tasked to follow and inspect virtual world. Internet providers, bussinessmen, NGO reps and public officers will be on the board.

The board will report to Information Technology Security Center.
The center will set up a site and a phone line for informing about offences. (antenna-tr.org, December 27, 2006)

Le rédacteur en chef de l'unique revue gay en jugement

Le rédacteur en chef de l'unique magazine gay de Turquie, lui même militant de la cause des homosexuels, sera jugé à partir de jeudi pour pornographie et risque jusqu'à trois ans de prison, a-t-on appris mardi de l'association dont il fait partie.

Umut Güner, 29 ans, doit comparaître devant une Cour d'Ankara en raison d'un numéro du magazine gay et lesbienne Kaos --qui prend le même nom que l'association-- publié en juillet et confisqué par la justice pour la représentation notamment d'une peinture jugée obscène, a indiqué à l'AFP Ali Erol, secrétaire général de Kaos GL.

Il risque de six à trois ans de réclusion et une amende aux termes de l'article 226 du code pénal qui sanctionne "toute personne qui diffuse ou publie des images obscènes", a-t-il précisé, indiquant que le procès relevait de la liberté d'expression.

Le numéro confisqué par décision de la justice avant même sa distribution traitait de la question de la pornographie en général, hétérosexuelle et homosexuelle.

Le magazine est publié bi-mensuellement depuis 1994.

Depuis cette date, Kaos fonctionne comme un groupe informel qui organise des activités pour les gays et les lesbiennes qui, en tant que communauté, ont fait de plus en plus parler d'eux ces dernières années, notamment dans la perspective des ambitions pro-européennes de la Turquie.

Une procédure entamée l'an dernier par le gouvernorat d'Ankara pour fermer l'association avait finalement été rejetée plusieurs mois après.

Les préjugés homophobes demeurent puissants en Turquie, où les relations homosexuelles ne constituent toutefois pas un délit, comme dans d'autres pays musulmans. (AFP, 26 déc 2006)

Le nombre des journalistes emprisonnés s'élève à 22 à la fin d'année

La Plateforme de solidarité avec les journalistes emprisonnés (TGDP) a annoncé que, après cette opération, le nombre des journalistes emrpisonnés à la fin d'année s'élève à 22.

La grande majorité de ces journalistes avaient été arrêtés lors des opérations précédentes lancées en vertu de la loi anti-terroriste contre les publications comme Atilim, Özgür Halk, Genç Bakis, Dayanisma et Özgür Radio, considérées proches des organisations de gauche illégales.

Voici la liste des journalistes dans les prisons turques:

Emin Orhan, Atilim, la prison type-F N°2  à Tekirdag
Halil Dinç, Özgür Radio, la prison type-F N°2  à Tekirdag
Sinan Gerçek, la prison type-F N°2  à Tekirdag
Özge Kelekçi, Atilim, la prison spéciale à Gebze
Mustafa Naci Toper, Atilim, la prison type-D à Diyarbakir
Mehmet Güzel, Atilim, la prison type-E à Gaziantep
Serdal Işık, Atilim, la prison type-D à Diyarbakir
Ibrahim Cicek, Atilim, la prison type-F à Tekirdag
Sedat Senoglu, Atilim, la prison type-F à Edirne
Füsun Erdoğan, Özgür Radio, la prison spéciale à Gebze
Hasan Coşar, Atilim, la prison type-F à Sincan
Ziya Ulusoy, Atilim, la prison type-F à Tekirdag
Bayram Namaz, Atilim, la prison type-F N°1 à Edirne
Suat Kolca, Özgür Halk et Genç Bakis, la prison type-F à Edirne
Yasar Duman, Özgür Halk et Genç Bakis, la prison type-F à Edirne
Selahaddin Sumeli, Özgür Halk et Genç Bakis, la prison type-F à Edirne
Mahmut Bozdag, Özgür Halk et Genç Bakis, la prison type-F à Edirne
Memik Horuz, Isci-Köylü, la prison type-F à Bolu
Erol Zavar, Odak, la prison type-F à Sincan
Hatice Duman, Atilim, la prison spéciale à Gebze
Mustafa Gök, Ekmek ve Adalet, la prison type-F à Sincan
Baris Acikel,  Isci Köylü, la prison type-F N°1 à Kandira

 
La TGDP appelle toutes les organisations de la presse et des droits de l'Homme à participer dans la campagne pour la lutte contre les lois liberticides et à envoyer des messages de voeux et de solidarité aux journalistes en prison.

e-mail: tutuklugazeteciler@mynet.com
gsm: 90-535929 75 86
Fax: 90-212-514 68 77

No news on 301 as government vows reform commitment

Plans for making necessary amendments to a controversial article of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) that the European Union says restricts freedom of expression seem to have been shelved, with representatives from leading trade unions and nongovernmental organizations which have remained divided over possible changes conveying to Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül that they will be unable to draw up a joint proposal on changes.

Gul had asserted only on Tuesday that Turkey's mind has been extremely clear in pursuing reforms under any circumstances in line with the government's commitment to full EU membership.

Turkey is under EU pressure to amend or scrap the infamous Article 301 of the TCK, which has landed a string of intellectuals in court for denigrating Turkish identity or Turkishness or making comments about the alleged genocide of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

Yet the government has already been told by the NGOs not to expect any particular proposal to be drafted since there has been no eventual agreement over what needs to be done. Nevertheless, the NGOs also conveyed to Gül that they would continue supporting the government in steps to tackle the Article 301 question.

Late last month Gül had admitted that certain rulings made under Article 301 were harming Turkey's image and that the government would soon make the necessary amendments to the article.

However, at Wednesday's press conference -- the sole topic of which was Turkey's EU process -- the minister didn't mention Article 301, although he vowed commitment for reforms not solely for the EU, but particularly for the sake of Turkey's people. What is important is that Turkey prepare itself for the time when the EU says it is ready ... because the EU will one day become aware of Turkey's importance, he said.

According to journalist-author Etyen Mahçupyan, director of the Istanbul-based Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation's (TESEV) democratization program, Wednesday's press conference clearly revealed the government's fragility stemming from the mounting pressure of the upcoming elections.

I'm sure, members of the government, behind closed doors, agree that the article should be totally abolished. But they believe they can't pay the price of such a move, Mahçupyan told the Turkish Daily News.

In a move to bring its legislation in line with European standards, the government has sought support from NGOs to that effect. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last month met with representatives from leading trade unions and NGOs to hear their opinions on how to change Article 301.

The NGOs were expected to introduce a set of proposals and arrangements to the government to make the law more clear and prevent any misinterpretation.

Nevertheless, those representatives have not able to gather since November, Necdet Okcan, lawyer for the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DİSK), said, noting that since then Article 301 has actually dropped from the government's agenda since all discussions surrounding the EU membership process have been dominated by the Cyprus issue.

The basic disagreement among NGOs stem from the expression of Turkishness within the article. While some NGOs have argued that denigrating Turkish identity should be changed to denigrating the Turkish nation, other NGOs, however, have opposed the idea.

DİSK, the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Türk-İş), the Labor Confederation (Hak-İş), the Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TİSK), the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB), the Economic Development Foundation (İKV), the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD), the Turkish Agriculturalists' Union (TZD), the Turkish Doctors' Union (TTB) and the Professional Union of Radio and Television Broadcasters (RATEM) were among those NGOs. (Turkish Daily News, EMİNE KART & HACER BOYACIOGLU, December 21, 2006)

La Turquie de nouveau condamnée par la CEDH

La Cour européenne des droits de l'homme a une nouvelle fois condamné mardi la Turquie pour violations de la liberté d'expression dans plusieurs affaires, liées notamment à la question kurde.

Parmi les cinq plaignants, deux, Erdal Tas et Mehmet Emin Yildiz, rédacteur-en-chef et propriétaire du quotidien "2000'de Yeni Gündem", avaient été condamnés à des amendes par la Cour de sûreté d'Istanbul pour avoir publié des articles résumant des déclarations des dirigeants du PKK (Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan).

Deux autres, Bülent Falakaoglu et Fevzi Saygili, à l'époque rédacteur en chef et propriétaire du quotidien Yeni Evrensel, avaient été condamnés à la même peine pour avoir vivement critiqué deux policiers, devenus ainsi des "cibles" potentielles d'organisations terroristes, selon la Cour de sûreté.

Le dernier, Mehmet Erol Yarar, président de l'association des industriels et hommes d'affaires indépendants (MÜSIAD), avait été condamné pour un discours ayant incité le peuple à la haine sur la base d'une distinction fondée sur l'appartenance à une race ou une région.

La CEDH a estimé insuffisants les motifs retenus par les juridictions turques pour limiter la liberté d'expression des cinq plaignants et jugé "disproportionnées" les condamnations qui leur ont été infligées, comme en de nombreuses autres affaires similaires.

Elle a alloué aux requérants un montant global de 24.000 euros au titre du préjudice moral et 9.500 euros pour frais et dépens. (AFP, 19 déc 2006)

Les responsables de l'édition turque d'un livre de Chomsky acquittés

Un tribunal d'Istanbul a acquitté mercredi le propriétaire d'une maison d'édition, un traducteur et deux éditeurs accusés d'avoir "incité à la haine" en publiant la version turque d'un livre de l'intellectuel américain Noam Chomsky, a rapporté l'agence de presse Anatolie.

Ce procès, ouvert en octobre, était le dernier en date d'une série de poursuites lancées contre des intellectuels -dont le prix Nobel de littérature 2006 Orhan Pamuk- en raison de leurs prises de position sur des sujets sensibles, comme les massacres d'Arméniens commis sous l'empire ottoman.

Les quatre prévenus encouraient jusqu'à six ans de prison pour "incitation à la haine" raciale et "dénigrement de l'identité nationale" en raison de leur rôle dans la publication en mars de l'édition turque de "La Fabrique de l'opinion publique : la politique économique des médias américains".

Le livre, cosigné par Noam Chomsky et Edward S. Herman, analyse à travers l'exemple de plusieurs pays les influences dont font l'objet les particuliers et les médias.

Il contient des références au traitement imposé à la minorité kurde de Turquie dans les années 1990 -au plus fort de la lutte entre les séparatistes kurdes et les forces de sécurité turques- de manière jugée insultante par le ministère public.

La juge Sevim Efendiler a estimé qu'aucune responsabilité ne pouvait être imputée au regard du droit de la presse au propriétaire des éditions Aram, Fatih Tas, et aux éditeurs Ömer Faruk Kurhan et Taylan Tosun.

Elle a par ailleurs considéré que le travail du traducteur Ender Abadoglu relevait de la "critique approfondie", un droit garanti par la Constitution turque et la Convention européenne des droits de l'Homme.

M. Tas avait déjà été poursuivi et acquitté en 2002 pour avoir publié un autre livre de Noam Chomski qui critiquait déjà l'attitude d'Ankara à l'égard de ses Kurdes et les ventes d'armes par les Etats-Unis à la Turquie.

Le professeur de linguistique avait alors assisté à une des audiences à Istanbul pour manifester son soutien à l'éditeur et donné des conférences à Diyarbakir, la principale ville du sud-est anatolien à la population majoritairement kurde. (AFP, 20 déc 2006)

Acquittement d'une journaliste turque poursuivie pour insulte à Atatürk

Un tribunal d'Istanbul a acquitté mardi la journaliste turque Ipek Calislar, accusée d'avoir insulté le fondateur de la Turquie moderne Mustafa Kemal Atatürk dans un livre sur l'épouse de celui-ci, a affirmé à l'AFP l'avocat de Mme Calislar.

La cour a estimé que les éléments constitutifs du délit n'étaient pas réunis, a précisé Me Fikret Ilkiz.

Les charges retenues contre Mme Calislar, auteur d'une biographie de Latife Ussaki, la femme d'Atatürk, relèvent d'une loi spéciale protégeant la mémoire de l'homme d'Etat.

Elles faisaient encourir à la journaliste et à un rédacteur en chef du quotidien à grand tirage Hürriyet, qui avait publié des extraits du livre et a également été acquitté, une peine allant jusqu'à quatre ans et demi de prison.

Dans son livre "Latife Hanim", publié en juin, Mme Calislar cite un témoin décrivant comment Atatürk, risquant d'être agressé par un opposant politique armé, aurait revêtu un tchador -vêtement féminin islamique- pour quitter le palais présidentiel d'Ankara à la barbe de l'agresseur.

Les poursuites ont été lancées à la suite d'une pétition lancée par un lecteur. Une première audience avait eu lieu en octobre.

Le même jour, deux autres journalistes, Ahmet Altan et Abdurrahman Dilipak, ont été acquittés dans deux procès, l'un pour un article critiquant la justice et l'autre pour insulte à l'Armée turque. (AFP-Antenna.org, 19 déc 2006)

Kurdish paper Azadiya Welat Blames Journalists' Association

Contemporary Journalists' Association (CGD) declared a new arrangement can be made following criticism concerning the rejection of Kurdish newspaper Azadiya Welat's participation in the "Successful Journalists of the Year Contest".

The newspaper applied to the best page-layout category but was rejected on grounds that it isn't a "publication in Turkish".

Debate sparkled following CGD's reasoning that "publications in English, Arabic or Persian were also rejected" and Azadiya Welat editor-in-chief Tayyip Temel's accusation that they are treated as "others".

Temel argued that the contest's participation guide didn't include such a restriction.

"Furthermore, the page-layout isn't related to the language of the publication", he added.

"And the biggest problem is that the language that a third of the population speaks in this country is held at the same level with English or French".

"We stay by press and freedom of expression regardless of race, sex or language" said CGD Chair Ahmet Akbay.

He added that the executive committee will gather to debate a change in the contest guide to allow participation in languages other than Turkish. (BIA News Center, December 18, 2006)

Besikci stand trial under Article 301 on the demand of the Army Chief

Sociologist İsmail Beşikçi will stand trial over his article on Kurdish issue published in “Esmer” magazine. Beşikçi have been prosecuted and prisoned before over his ideas. There is another ongoing case against Beşikçi under article 216 over his opinion on Kurdish issue.

The General chief of Staff made a “classified” complaint to the Ministry of Justice on 19 January 2006 over Beşikçi’s article “We did not Talk, We were Repressed” and Ahmet Kahraman’s article “Phantom” published in popular culture magazine “Esmer”s December 2005 issue. The complaint also included the executives Ferzende Kaya and Mehmet Ali İzmir. The complaint was based on article 301 of TPC. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Artuk of Marmara University Law Department was consulted as an expert. Artuk commented that Ahmet Kahraman’s article was in the scope of “right to give information and criticism” and did not insult the army, pointing that there was no grounds for a case.

Artuk also commented that Beşikçi’s article included some statements which could be considered as offnesive under article 216 of TPC (inciting hatred and hostility among the people”. Prosecutor Remzi Yaşar Kızılhan’s indictment led to a case against Beşikçi and executives of the magazine Ferzende Kaya and Mehmet Ali İzmir. Between 1 year and 6 months and 4 years and 6 months imprisonment was demanded. The next hearing is on 12 February 2007.  (antenna-tr.org, December 18, 2006)

Publisher Ragip Zarakolu tried for insulting the Republic and Atatürk

Publisher Ragip Zarakolu's case where he's tried with 13.5 years imprisonment for "insulting the republic, its institutions and Ataturk" by publishing two books of Armenian writers, continued on December 14.

The judge postponed the case, ordering the translator of the books to be brought to court. This is seen as another attempt to try translators in freedom of expression cases.

Shafak and Tirman's translators

Zarakolu stands trial because of publishing Prof. Dora Sakaryan's "The Memorials of an Armenian Doctor" and George Jerjian's "Reality Will Set Us Free".

Prosecution demands 7.5 years in prison for "insulting and ridiculing the Republic and the State" of the first case and 6 years for "insulting Turkishness and the armed forces" for the latter.

Translators Lutfi Taylan Tosun and Aysel Yildirim are being prosecuted alongside Aram Publishing House owner Fatih Tas for the Turkish language copy of John Tirman's book "Spoils of War: The Human Cost of America's Arms Trade".

Writer Elif Shafak's translator Aslı Bicen was also tried when her book "Father and Bastard" put onto court with the claim of "insulting Turkishness".

Zarakolu's cases will continue in March 15. (BIA News Center, Erol ONDEROGLU, December 18, 2006)

Le PEN International lance une campagne contre l'inculpation de Hrant Dink

Le Comité des écrivains en prison du PEN (WiPC) vient de lancer une campagne pour attirer l'attention sur les écrivains de partout autour du monde qui sont emprisonnés ou qui risquent la prison pour des allégations de diffamation.

Le WiPC presse les pays d'abroger les lois qui traitent la diffamation comme un crime plutôt que comme un délit civil, et de retirer le terme « insulte » de tous les codes pénaux. Dans sa liste des cas de violations de la libre expression à travers le monde, dressée entre janvier et juin 2006, le WiPC a recensé 96 cas où des écrivains ont été incarcérés ou ont risqué de l'être sur des charges de diffamation pénale.

Pour lancer la campagne, qui se déroulera de novembre 2006 à avril 2007, le WiPC met en lumière cinq cas d'écrivains actuellement en prison ou poursuivis - en Chine, en Égypte, en Éthiopie, au Mexique et en Turquie.

Il s'agit des cas de Hrant Dink, rédacteur en chef de Turquie, du journaliste éthiopien Wesenseged Gebrekidan, de la reporter mexicaine Lydia Cacho, du « cyberdissident » chinois Yang Xiaoqing et des journalistes égyptiens Ibrahim Issa et Sahar Zaki.

Les membres du PEN de partout dans le monde vont écrire des lettres, faire de la publicité et organiser des événements d'appui à ces personnes et aux autres écrivains qui sont attaqués. Le WiPC entend aussi coordonner une série d'actions mensuelles centrées sur différentes régions où les lois pénales sur la diffamation étouffent la libre expression. (WIPC/IFEX, 19 décembre 2007)

Consulter les sites suivants :
- WiPC : http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/
- Définir la diffamation : http://www.article19.org/pdfs/standards/definingdefamation.pdf
- Comité mondial pour la liberté de la presse : http://www.wpfc.org/CampaignAgainstInsultLaws.html
- Manuel de campagne de la FIJ : http://www.ifj-asia.org/files/ifj_defamation_lr.pdf

Une sociologue finlandaise arrêtée en Turquie

DIYARBAKIR - Une sociologue finlandaise a été arrêté dans le sud-est anatolien à la population majoritairement kurde et sera expulsée de Turquie samedi, ont affirmé des sources sécuritaires locales et des diplomates.

Un responsable de l'ambassade de Finlande à Ankara a identifié la scientifique comme étant Kiristina Koivunen, arrivée en Turquie deux semaines plus tôt, mais a ajouté ne pas savoir pourquoi elle avait été arrêtée vendredi alors qu'elle quittait la ville de Van, proche de l'Iran.

L'ambassade a contacté le ministère turc des Affaires étrangères pour demander des explication et espérait recevoir des informations la semaine prochaine, a indiqué cette source, parlant sous le couvert de l'anonymat.

Mme Koivunen devait être envoyée à Istanbul et de là être expulsée du pays plus tard samedi, a ajouté le responsable finlandais.

Des sources de sécurité locales ont indiqué que la scientifique était expulsée car elle faisait l'objet d'interdiction d'entrée sur le territoire turc, mais la raison de cette mesure n'était pas immédiatement connue.

Selon des sources locales, Mme Koivunen, de l'université de Helsinki, a écrit dans un journal finlandais des articles sur les rebelles kurdes du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK).  (AFP, 16 déc 2006)

Two 301 Cases Against Sinan Kara for Criticising the Army

Journalist Sinan Kara is prosecuted in two cases over two articles published in ‘Ülkede Özgür Gündem’ daily. He is charged with “insulting the army through press”.

İstanbul Public prosecutor’s office completed the investigation and opened the cases. Sinan Kara said 'If we can ctiticise politicans and the government we should be able to criticise the generals'. Beyoğlu 2nd. Criminal Court of First Instance opened two cases against Sinan Kara over his two articles published in ‘Ülkede Özgür Gündem’ daily.

He is charged under TPC articles 301/2 and 53/a,e. Public prosecutor Muzaffer Yalçın argued in the indictment that Sinan Kara “insulted the army” in his two article published on 22 and 26 September 2006.

The indictment qouted Sinan Kara's article 'Barracs Party': “In other countries the powers of the army is considered in the limits of law whereas in Turkey army is above the law... I think Mr. Yaşar (the chief of staff) should act at once, he should reregulate the military statue in line with the statue of a political party and set up BP that is Barracs Party”. The other case against Sinan Kara is over his article 'Killers on the Payroll”.

Another development is that the translators are included in the case against Ragıp Zarakolu under TPC article. (antenna-tr.org, December 15, 2006)

Second Case against Erol Özkoray over same Article

Journalist Erol Özkoray faces a second case over the same article criticizing the Turkish Army. He was acquitted over his article published in "Idea Politika" magazine yet he is charged now over the same article published on the website www.ideapolitika.com.

He was ordered to pay 200 TL compensation over a previous article but the highcourt reversed the case.

Preosecutor demanded double punishment of Özkoray under article 301 of TPC.

Journalist Özkoray said in his defense that he was acquitted by İstanbul 2nd. High Criminal Court over the same article before and asked for his acquittal. (antenna-tr.org, December 14, 2006)

Le lauréat du prix Nobel 2006 de littérature rentre sous haute sécurité

Orhan Pamuk, le lauréat du prix Nobel 2006 de littérature, est rentré tard mercredi en Turquie sous haute sécurité dans la crainte d'éventuels incidents en raison des controverses politiques qu'il a suscitées, ont rapporté jeudi les médias.

Aucun incident n'a cependant été signalé à l'aéroport d'Istanbul où il a été applaudi par quelques dizaines de passagers et leurs familles présents dans le terminal.
« Je suis un peu fatigué mais très content », a déclaré aux journalistes M. Pamuk qui avait appris avoir remporté en octobre le Nobel à l'université de Columbia à New York où il est professeur.

Il était ensuite brièvement revenu à Istanbul où il habite dans la plus grande indifférence de ses compatriotes avant de partir pour la Suède où le Nobel lui a été décerné dimanche.
La police anti-émeute s'est déployée massivement dans l'aérodrome après qu'une chaîne de télévision pro-nationaliste eut appelé les Turcs à accueillir le romancier à l'aéroport avec des drapeaux turcs.

« Ce prix appartient à la Turquie, à nous tous, à la culture et à la littérature turque dans laquelle je nage depuis des années comme un poisson », a dit souriant l'auteur de « Neige » et de « Le Livre Noir », vêtu d'un costume sombre et d'une cravate.

Orhan Pamuk, 54 ans, premier Turc à avoir été honoré de cette distinction, a suscité de vives polémiques en Turquie qui lui ont valu d'être qualifié de "« renégat » par les milieux nationalistes avec ses prises de positions sur le conflit kurde et la question arménienne, longtemps restés tabous.

Il a été poursuivi pour « dénigrement de l'identité nationale turque » après avoir affirmé dans un magazine suisse en février 2005 : « Un million d'Arméniens et 30.000 Kurdes ont été tués sur ces terres, mais personne d'autre que moi n'ose le dire ». Les poursuites ont été abandonnées début 2006.  (AFP, 14 déc 2006)

Un enseignant turc suspendu pour avoir critiqué le culte d’Ataturk

Une université turque a suspendu l’un de ses professeurs pour des remarques faites à propos du fondateur révéré de la Turquie, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, selon un responsable officiel, lundi.

L’affaire met en lumière l’ambivalence continue de ce pays candidat à l’Union européenne, concernant le soutien à la liberté d’expression.

L’université Gazi d’Ankara a suspendu le professeur Atilla Yayla la semaine dernière, après que ce spécialiste des sciences politiques ait critiqué Ataturk lors d’une conférence dans la ville d’Izmir, sur les rives de la mer Egée, selon un responsable de cette université d’Etat, qui a requis l’anonymat à cause des lois qui interdisent aux fonctionnaires de parler à des journalistes sans autorisation préalable.

D’après les reportages, l’enseignant a été suspendu après s’être référé à « cet homme », ce militaire homme d’Etat, avoir critiqué les statues et les représentations d’Ataturk qui décorent les bâtiments gouvernementaux et les écoles, et avoir déclaré que la période du parti unique sous Ataturk avait conduit à « une régression plutôt qu’à un progrès ».

La demande d’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union européenne apparaît considérablement embarrassée au vu de ce que les autorités européennes qualifient de ralentissement dans les réformes, y compris la liberté d'expression, et du refus de la Turquie d’ouvrir ses ports et ses aéroports à Chypre, membre de l’Union européenne. La Commission européenne a recommandé la semaine dernière que l’Union européenne gèle ses négociations sur 8 des 35 dispositions politiques