Droits
de l'Homme / Human Rights
La
Turquie condamnée à Strasbourg
pour des tortures à des détenus
La Turquie a été condamnée mardi à
Strasbourg pour avoir infligé le
supplice de la falaka (coups sur les pieds) à un prisonnier en
2000 à
titre de punition et des tortures à des Kurdes pour leur
arracher des
aveux en 1999.
Sabri Diri, détenu en 2000 dans une prison de haute
sécurité d'Istanbul
pour appartenance à une organisation illégale, avait
participé aux
grèves de la faim organisées dans ces
établissements pour protester
contre la sévérité de leur régime et
réprimées dans le sang par les
autorités.
Des scintigraphies, pratiquées à la demande expresse de
la Cour
européenne des droits de l'homme, avaient permis de prouver
l'existence
de traumatismes dus au supplice de la falaka que la Turquie niait, ou
attribuait à d'autres causes.
Dans un arrêt rendu mardi, la Cour européenne a
estimé que M. Diri
avait été torturé "intentionnellement dans le but
de le punir et de
briser sa résistance physique et morale aux autorités de
la prison".
Elle a alloué au requérant, qui vit actuellement en
Suisse, 15.000
euros pour dommage moral.
Dans un autre arrêt, la Cour a attribué des sommes de
5.500 à 12.700
euros à 12 requérants kurdes résidant à
Sirnak, arrêtés par les
gendarmes en septembre 1999 pour appartenance à l'organisation
terroriste illégale PKK (Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan.
Les requérants affirmaient avoir été privés
d'alimentation, battus,
pendus, avoir reçu des chocs électriques ou des jets
à forte pression
et subi des musiques ou des cris à fort volume sonore pour les
contraindre à avouer.
Les juges européens ont donné raison à cinq
d'entre eux pour les
tortures, et reconnu aux sept autres notamment une durée
excessive de
leur garde à vue.
"Les autorités n'ont pas carte blanche pour arrêter des
suspects et les
placer en garde à vue, sans contrôle effectif des
tribunaux, chaque
fois qu'elles estiment qu'il y a eu une infraction terroriste",
rappelle la Cour dans son arrêt. (AFP, 31 juil 2007)
Human Rights Activists Warn: Increase in Police
Torture
Akin Birdal, newly elected MP for Diyarbakir and former president of
the Human Rights Association (IHD), and Metin Bakkalci, general
secretary of the Turkey Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) have called for
a reconsideration of the legal amendments to the 'Law on Powers and
Tasks of the Police'. The amendments have made torture more prevalent.
According to TIHV data, three people died in detention in June in
Canakkale, Izmir and Istanbul.
Bakkalci said that there were 266 claims of torture brought to the
foundation in the first six months of 2007, which represents a 40
percent increase from 2006. Of the applications, 172 were concerned
with events which happened in 2007.
The IHD says that 708 people were tortured in 2006.
MP Birdal is determined to work towards a reduction in police powers in
parliament: "There is a direct link between this law and torture. As
soon as the law was passed, there were more news of torture and deaths
in detention. The law is incongruous with international law, and we
will call for changes."
The most recent case to draw attention was that of journalist Sinan
Tekpetek from the "Özgür Hayat" newspaper and the "yüzde
52 Öfke"
magazine. He has informed the press that he was tortured by the police.
According to the information he gave bianet, Tekpetek was stopped and
asked for ID. After his ID had been checked through a central computer
system, he was forced into a police car. Pepper spray was used and he
was beaten up. He was brought to a deserted place and beaten up again;
then he was thrown from the car.
Legitimization of police force
Tekpetek's case starts with one of the new powers of the police. They
are allowed to stop anyone and ask for their ID.
* In the name of crime prevention, the police are allowed to detain
people at random. This randomness encourages torture. Primarily, it
allows for psychological violence.
* An environment of physical force has been created. This ranges from
the frequent use of handcuffs to the firing of shots without hesitation.
The foremost problem is that these police powers legitimise the use of
physical force by the police. In other words, it makes people forget
that everyone has the right not to be tortured.
The AKP government passed the amendments to the Police Law and it was
ratified by President Sezer.
Birdal concedes that there may be MPs who voted for this law without
exact knowledge of what it entailed. "If necessary, we will photocopy
this law and make sure they read it. We will draw attention to it from
the speaker's podium."
The case of Sinan Tekpetek has drawn attention to the police force
attached to the Beyoglu Police Department.
The Istanbul branch of the IHD said on 29 June that the random
practices and the use of violence by police had increased in recent
months. The association had received more than sixty complaints in the
two preceding months.
Police in Beyoglu have been criticized in recent years for targeting
journalists, for using force against and arresting the "muhtar"
(quarter official) Cigdem Nalbantoglu, who had criticized the police,
after an ID control, and for using violence against transsexual Esmeray.
Journalists targeted
On 23 August 2005, a trainee reporter for the "Cumhuriyet" newspaper,
Servet Alcinkaya, was detained and beaten in the police car and at the
police station. His "crime"? When asked for his ID, he had asked for
the ID of the policemen to make sure they were what they claimed.
When he said, "Don't beat me, I am a journalist", the reply was, "Is
there a rule that journalists don't get beaten?" When in detention, he
was not allowed to inform his family of his whereabouts.
During the 1 May march of workers near Taksim Square (which had been
banned), more than ten journalists were kicked, hit with truncheons
and/or attacked with pepper spray. The journalists are preparing to sue.
Victim of police violence on trial herself
Muhtar Cigdem Nalbantoglu of the Gümüssuyu quarter near
Taksim had
criticised the police for their open discrimination against
transvestites and prostitutes. In 2006, she was taken into custody for
an ID control. She was hit and handcuffed.
Nalbantoglu's complaints have not had any results. On the contrary, she
is on trial for "resisting the police" at the Beyoglu 1st Penal Court.
The court will hear her statement on 2 October.
Different sexual orientations
targeted
Transsexual Esmeray has claimed that she was beaten in front of the
Beyoglu Police Station on 5 June.
On 16 June, a group of homosexuals were subjected to police violence at
the Tekyön bar in Beyoglu. According to an eye witness, people
were
beaten with truncheons and pepper spray was used. (BIA News Center,
July 31, 2007)
Evolution du
nationalisme et du fondamentalisme en Turquie
(L'analyse de l'écrivain
kurde Ahmet Dere)
Les valeurs de la démocratie et la défense des
libertés fondamentales
auront connu pendant ces premières années du 21e
siècle quelques
avancées. Il n’est plus possible de maintenir peuples et
communautés
sous la pression et les priver, comme dans les siècles
précédents, de
la possibilité de s’exprimer. Telle est la réalité
du monde.
Malheureusement, La Turquie, candidate à l’UE, exprime une
évolution
allant en sens inverse à ce qui se passe ailleurs sur la
planète. Dans
ce pays, le fondamentalisme et le nationalisme sont en progression
constante depuis ces dernières années.
Je crois que cette tendance provoque une forte inquiétude parmi
les
différents peuples de Turquie car elle représente un
sérieux danger non
seulement pour ces populations de Turquie, mais également pour
l’ensemble du Moyen-Orient. Cette évolution est aussi
perçue comme un
danger important pour l’UE, à laquelle la Turquie essaie
d’adhérer. En
effet, n’oublions pas qu’environ deux millions de Turcs vivent dans les
pays de cette Union. L’Etat turc maintient toujours ses relations avec
ses citoyens en Europe et il essaie de poursuivre, avec leur aide, une
politique similaire.
Analysons les raisons de ce danger couvant en Turquie. Le hasard n’y
est pour rien. Nationalisme et fondamentalisme n’ont pas connu cette
progression et semé leurs influences à travers le pays
par miracle.
Certes, En période électorale, on enregistre
généralement une
exaspération du sentiment national. Tous les partis politiques
turcs
utilisent cette ficelle. Nous ne pouvons sur ce point les distinguer
l’un de l’autre.
Cependant, en tenant compte de l’évolution de la situation
internationale et des effets qu’elle produit sur la Turquie, on peut
prétendre que le fondamentalisme et le nationalisme ne peuvent
évoluer
sans l’appui de l’Etat turc. De fait, c’est la force de l’Etat elle
même qu’il faut voir à la base de ce danger croissant de
jour en jour.
Ainsi, après l’analyse des faits, il faut bien se rendre
à l’évidence
que, de façon non officielle, ce sont des puissances de diverses
institutions étatiques qui alimentent le nationalisme et le
fondamentalisme. L’armée est la plus active dans ce domaine.
Cette
évidence n’est contestée par personne.
Une politique systématique de l’Etat soutient toujours le
développement
du fondamentalisme et du nationalisme. Ce n’est pas l’islam paisible
tel qu’il est pratiqué qui est à même de renforcer
le fondamentalisme.
De même, on sait que le nationalisme populaire de la Turquie
n’est pas
en mesure d’imposer facilement un autre fascisme de type
hitlérien.
Il faut rappeler que le Mouvement de la Liberté Kurde a
crée un
sentiment démocratique et révolutionnaire au Kurdistan et
en Turquie
ces 30 dernières années. Il a plus
particulièrement apporté des
connaissances aux Kurdes leur permettant de défendre leurs
droits
nationaux, démocratiques et humanitaires. En compromettant ainsi
la
politique nihiliste de l’Etat, ce mouvement kurde a introduit une
véritable crainte dans toutes les institutions étatiques
depuis le
commencement de la lutte armée le 15 août 1984. L’absence
d’une
politique cohérente visant à résoudre les
problèmes du pays a conforté
le mouvement de libération du Kurdistan qui est ainsi
considéré comme
un grand danger pour la République Turque fondée par
Mustafa Kemal.
D’après la politique officielle de l’Etat, cette crainte non
fondée est
propagée par les milieux incultes. De fait, en se servant des
sentiments religieux et nationalistes de ces milieux, on
développe chez
eux un rejet du mouvement kurde. En mettant tous les moyens de l’Etat
au service de cette hostilité, une véritable guerre
s’engage alors
contre les Kurdes. Cause et effet se conjuguent alors et c’est
cette
sale guerre qui nourrit et fait évoluer le sentiment
nationaliste et
fondamentaliste en Turquie.
En même temps, ces efforts de la Turquie servent dans une large
mesure
d’autres milieux mal intentionnés. C’est dans cette perspective
que le
mouvement Hizbollah (une force paramilitaire) trouve la
possibilité de
s’organiser pendant les années 1990 au Kurdistan. Ce mouvement
paramilitaire a commis des crimes -restés impunis- dont on
connaît les
auteurs. Les populations turques et kurdes ont connu bien des
souffrances et subi de lourdes pertes suite au développement de
cette
organisation. On sait aujourd’hui que l’Etat turc se trouvait
derrière
ces puissances occultes. Ces puissances ont ainsi acquis une telle
importance qu’elles ont même fini par mettre en danger
l’intérêt de
l’Etat. Dans les années 2000, des mesures ont donc
été prises contre ce
mouvement et son influence a été artificiellement
réduite. Cependant,
après l’année 2002 et plus particulièrement avec
l’arrivée au pouvoir
du gouvernement AKP, cette agressivité se propage sous d’autres
formes.
Le nouveau déguisement est celui de la « lutte contre le
séparatisme ».
En parlant du séparatisme, la première chose qui vient
à l’esprit,
c’est la lutte pour la démocratie et la liberté du peuple
kurde. Cette
lutte est présentée comme un poing vengeur contre les
Turcs et la
Turquie. Au lieu de prendre en considération les droits
légitimes du
peuple kurde et de les aborder dans un état d’esprit
contemporain, on
utilise la population, on abuse de son innocence, on exploite ses
croyances pour les organiser autour d’un sentiment fondamentaliste et
on crée un nationalisme de nature fasciste. Au lieu de
protéger ses
populations, l’Etat turc les manipule afin de faire évoluer ces
deux
sentiments. On ne peut malheureusement prédire jusqu’où
ces sentiments
vont évoluer.
Ce problème est de plus en plus difficile à
résoudre. Cette situation
ne présente pas un danger seulement du point de vue des Kurdes,
mais
elle influence tous les peuples vivant en Turquie ainsi que dans les
pays voisins. Elle obstrue également la voie de
l’adhésion de la
Turquie à l’UE. Il n’est pas difficile de deviner comment l’UE
posera
son regard sur ce pays où le nationalisme et le fondamentalisme
trouvent tant de possibilités pour s’incruster. Il n’est pas
difficile
non plus de deviner la satisfaction des forces qui, au sein même
de
l’UE, s’opposent à l’adhésion de la Turquie. Cette
situation périlleuse
représente un atout majeur pour rejeter la candidature
turque.
Certes, certains pays européens disposent bien d’autres
arguments, mais
dans l’immédiat, ce point est au premier plan. Ceci
représente un atout
important pour les Chrétiens Démocrates Européens.
Cependant, le but
des opposants à la Turquie n’est pas simplement de
s’opposer à la
situation dégradante de la Turquie. Au contraire, leur objectif
est de
pousser la Turquie vers une situation précaire afin
d’avoir des
prétextes qui peuvent être utilisés contre les
peuples de ce pays et
aussi des pays voisins.
Ainsi, le processus des négociations s’avère
avantageux car cette
situation sera mieux éclairée à mesure de
l’avancement des discussions.
Si les autorités turques ne se rendent pas compte de cette
situation et
ne prennent pas les dispositions nécessaires, le pays se
heurtera à de
sérieux obstacles sur le chemin de l’adhésion à
l’UE. Signalons qu’en
l’espèce, ce sont seulement les réactionnaires qui
peuvent tirer profit
d’une telle situation.
Etant donné que la situation objective de la Turquie est un
problème
populaire, elle intéresse aussi les intellectuels et les
démocrates.
En effet, on peut prétendre que tout ce que l’Etat
considère comme
conforme à ses propres intérêts ne peut être
conforme aux intérêts des
peuples.
Dans le cas de la Turquie plus particulièrement, de trop rares
décisions politiques, prises dans l’intérêt de
l’Etat, sont conformes
aux intérêts populaires. C’est là où doivent
intervenir les
institutions civiles et populaires et les démocrates pour livrer
une
lutte concrète contre cette attitude de l’Etat. Même s’il
y du retard
dans cette voie, il est certain que l’on peut obtenir des
résultats à
travers une lutte sérieuse. Le plus important, c’est
l’entrée en scène
des démocrates et l’organisation d’une lutte distincte contre le
fondamentalisme et le nationalisme.
La résolution démocratique de la question kurde doit
prendre place
obligatoirement au cœur même de la lutte conduite contre le
fondamentalisme et le nationalisme. En effet, l’absence de solution au
problème kurde est à la base de ce fléau.
En tenant compte des intérêts des peuples de la Turquie,
la question
kurde doit être obligatoirement réglée grâce
à des résolutions saines
et permanentes, démocratiques. A cet effet, rappelons que M.
Abdullah
Ocalan a proposé de nombreuses perspectives tant aux Kurdes
qu’aux
intellectuels et aux autorités turques.
Nous sommes à un moment crucial. Dans le cadre du processus des
élections générales, ces perspectives peuvent
être prises en
considération et une solution peut être trouvée
pour la question kurde,
pour autant que l’on consente à fournir l’effort
nécessaire. La Turquie
se débarrasserait des nombreux problèmes qui la
déstabilisent.
De cette manière, les peuples de Turquie ainsi que les peuples
voisins
trouveraient la sérénité. La Turquie ne
représenterait plus un danger
du point de vue de l’UE. Dans un tel cas de figure, et même si la
candidature de la Turquie n’était pas encore acceptée,
elle
présenterait, en tant que pays proche et voisin, un
intérêt pour l’UE.
A ce stade, il est nécessaire d’évoquer le rôle
important qui incombe à
la Communauté Européenne et à ses institutions.
Plus particulièrement,
les organisations civiles pourront jouer un rôle plus
important. Il ne
s’agit pas seulement de la résolution de la question Kurde, mais
du
devoir humain de chacun. Ce serait un petit pas vers un avenir
illuminé
et prometteur.
Viol et torture en garde à vue: la Turquie
condamnée par la CEDH
La Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme (CEDH) a
condamné mardi la
Turquie pour des cas de torture survenus à l'occasion de deux
gardes à
vue en 1998 et en 1994.
Dans la première affaire, Cafer Kurt, membre
présumé de l'organisation
armée illégale le Parti Révolutionnaire Turc
(Türkiye Devrim Partisi),
s'était plaint à la justice d'avoir subi, de la part des
policiers
responsables de sa garde à vue en mai 1998, des tortures
intenses,
notamment d'avoir été violé à l'aide
d'objets en bois et de tuyaux.
Le parquet d'Istanbul intenta une action pénale contre les
policiers
mais, en juin 2004, la cour d'assises déclara les accusations
éteintes
pour prescription. M. Kurt, malade, fut libéré en avril
2002 et demanda
l'asile politique en Grèce.
Dans une seconde affaire, six plaignants (Fazil Ahmet Tamer, Erol
Kaplan, Hasan Demir, Ridvan Kura, Mustafa Demir et Fatma Günay),
membres présumés de l'organisation illégale THKP
(Parti de la
libération du peuple de Turquie/Union de refondation) se
plaignaient de
nombreux sévices pendant leur garde à vue le 19 avril
1994.
Ils affirmèrent avoir subi la "pendaison palestinienne"
(suspension par
les bras avec les mains liées dans le dos) et d'avoir
été privés de
sommeil. Ils firent l'objet de plusieurs examens médicaux qui
révélèrent qu'ils souffraient de douleurs et d'une
perte de sensibilité
aux bras.
Le parquet poursuivit les huit policiers responsables de la garde
à
vue. En mai 2004, la Cour de cassation prononça l'extinction de
l'action pénale pour prescription.
Les policiers identifiés comme étant leurs tortionnaires
ne firent l'objet d'aucune sanction disciplinaire.
Les juges de Strasbourg ont estimé mardi que, dans les deux
affaires,
les violences infligées aux requérants étaient
propres à engendrer des
douleurs et souffrances "aiguës", et qu'elles "méritent la
qualification de torture" interdite par l'article 3 de la Convention
européenne des droits de l'Homme.
La Cour a alloué à Cafer Kurt 10.000 euros pour
préjudice moral et des
sommes allant de 25.000 à 30.000 euros aux six autres
requérants. (AFP,
24 juil 2007)
Un jeune belge incarcéré en Turquie pour
écouler de la fausse monnaie
Les autorités belges s'occupent du cas de Ricardo. Le
Louviérois âgé de
22 ans est incarcéré depuis vendredi à Alanya. Il
est accusé d'avoir
tenté d'écouler de la fausse monnaie. Le malheureux
touriste a été mis
en contact avec une avocate proposée par l'ambassade de
Belgique.
"Comme le jeune homme rencontrait des problèmes linguistiques
avec
l'avocat pro deo mis à sa disposition sur place, nous lui avons
conseillé un avocat avec lequel notre ambassade est souvent en
contact", a indiqué un porte-parole du ministère des
Affaires
Etrangères, Marc Michielsen. Ce dernier lui a rendu visite et
une
première réunion a eu lieu aujourd'hui.
Le jeune homme accompagné de son amie Stéphanie s'est
fait abuser par
un inconnu, à Brussels Airport, son départ pour la
Turquie. Prétextant
qu'il était malaisé d'utiliser de gros billets en
Turquie, l'homme lui
a proposé d'échanger son billet de 500 euros contre de
plus petites
coupures. Celles-ci se sont révélées fausses.
Ricardo s'est fait
arrêter alors qu'il utilisait un des billets dans un commerce
turc.
"Nous avons rencontré des cas semblables dans tous les pays qui
connaissent une forte concentration de touristes, mais ce cas de fausse
monnaie est une première", a précisé Marc
Michielsen. "Même à Zaventem,
la direction ne s'attendait pas à ce que ce genre de trafic
existe en
ses murs", a-t-il ajouté.
"Notre ambassade a demandé lundi aux autorités turques de
pouvoir
effectuer une visite consulaire, mais tout ne sera réglé
en 24
heures... Nous savons par expérience que débloquer ce
genre de
situation prend du temps en Turquie, mais nous suivons l'affaire", a
poursuivi M. Michielsen. Dans un tel cas de figure, la loi turque
prévoit une peine d'emprisonnement préventive de 40 jours
avant
jugement. Dans l'intervalle, Ricardo devrait rester en prison. Sa
petite amie rentre ce mercredi en Belgique. La famille est en contact
avec l'ambassade de Belgique à Ankara. (RTL, 24 juillet 2007)
Continuing Abuse in F-type Prisons
The Istanbul branch of the Contemporary Lawyers' Association has
announced that human rights violations continue in the controversial
F-type prisons.
They claim that in an F-type prison in Tekirdag (Thrace), a prisoner
who asked to be sent to hospital was beaten by both the doctor and the
guards. It is said that in the same prison a prisoner's injured leg was
hit.
Güray Dag of the Istanbul branch of the Contemporary Lawyers'
Association (CHD) says that prisoner Kemal Avci, who had had pains in
his fingers for two weeks, had been sent to the doctor's on 13 June.
When he asked to be sent to hospital, he was beaten by the prison
guards and by the doctor. Avci complained about the guards and the
doctor, but was punished with 20 days in the cell for "resisting the
doctor and civil servants on duty".
According to lawyers Barkin Timtik and Sükriye Erden of the CHD
prisons' commission, prisoner Hakan Özek has a serious injury on
his
leg and cannot walk without crutches. When he could not stand any
longer and asked for a chair, he was beaten by prison guards.
The two lawyers say that six other prisoners have been maltreated in a
similar way. When they complained, they were punished with a withdrawal
of family visits for one month and a ban on communication for 45 days.
These prisoners are: Muammer Simsek, Turan Özen, Ilhan Iseri,
Zeynel Ertürk, Mesut Omur, and Bülent Pelit.
The CHD, which has prepared a report on F-type prisons, says that Order
No. 45/1, which had been introduced in order to stop the protest hunger
strikes of prisoners, was not being applied.
Lawyer Behic Asci, a member of the CHD, had initiated the hunger
strikes on 5 April 2006 to protest against the isolation policy in
F-type prisons, and the strikes continued for 294 days.
Order 45/1, which was then issued, allows for detainees and prisoners
to use common space for 10 hours a day. (BIA News Center, July 18, 2007)
Tortures
policières au pied du monument aux droits de l’homme à
Ankara
Le
16 juillet au soir, 154 membres du Front pour les droits et les
libertés (HÖC), une organisation sociale issue de la gauche
radicale,
ont été arrêtés à Ankara lors d’un
meeting anti-électoral intitulé
« Les élections ne sont pas une solution. Rejoignons
la lutte pour
l’indépendance de la Turquie ». Dix autres membres de
HÖC ont été sauvagement tabassés par la
police.
L’une
des deux victimes policières, Eray Destegül, un
étudiant à la faculté
de langues, d’histoire et de géographie (DTCF) à Ankara
et membre de la Fédération
de l’association de la jeunesse (Gençlik Dernegi Federasyonu) se
trouve
en ce moment entre la vie et la mort. Après avoir
été torturé en pleine
rue par les forces d’intervention spéciale (çevik
kuvvet), il a été
hospitalisé à la faculté de médecine de
l’hôpital de Gazi à Ankara.
De nombreux
passants ont hué la barbare de la police et une vingtaine de
membres du Parti communiste de Turquie (TKP) a manifesté
à l’endroit même où les membres de HÖC ont
été battus.
En
ce moment, 126 membres de HÖC comparaissent devant le procureur de
la
république. Les témoins oculaires soulignent que les
brutalités
policières se sont poursuivies durant la comparution des
manifestants
au tribunal.
Le lendemain, des membres
de la Confédération
syndicale des employés (KESK), de la plateforme socialiste des
opprimés (ESP), des Maisons du Peuple (Halkevleri), de
l’Initiative pour la Paix (Baris Inisiyatifi) et de la Plateforme
révolutionnaire indépendante de classe (BDSP) ont
manifesté pour protester cette brutalité policière.
Ce dimanche, la
Turquie va connaître de nouvelles élections
générales.
Au total, 7395
candidats sont en lice dans les 85 circonscriptions électorales
du pays pour pourvoir les 550 sièges de la Grande
Assemblée nationale.
Aux
côtés des 14 partis politiques qui se présentent,
la loi électorale
fixant le seuil national d’entrée au Parlement à 10%, les
organisations
de la gauche radicale et les patriotes kurdes du DTP ont
décidé de
présenter des candidats indépendants pour assurer leur
élection.
Selon
les estimations, une fois élus, les candidats pro-kurdes
devraient
pouvoir former un groupe à l'Assemblée avec au moins une
vingtaine de
députés, probablement le groupe parlementaire du parti de
la société
démocratique (DTP).
Le DHKP quant
à lui, a décidé de boycotter les élections
pour renforcer un 3e
front extraparlementaire en rupture avec la polarisation entre une
armée qui exacerbe le nationalisme fasciste et l’AKP au pouvoir,
soutenu par Bruxelles et Washington. Dans son dernier
communiqué, le
DHKP précise cependant ne pas mener campagne contre les
candidats
pro-kurdes et ceux de la gauche radicale.
Lors
des dernières élections législatives de 2002, 11
millions des 42
millions d’électeurs ne s’étaient pas rendus aux urnes.
Craignant toute
velléité de désobéissance de la population
envers les shows électoraux,
les autorités, appuyées par la presse, ne cessent
d’appeler les gens à
remplir leur devoir civique.
Aujourd’hui,
nombreux sont les citoyens qui ne se font plus d’illusions dans les
élections. Par exemple, à Uzunköprü dans la
province d’Edirne (région
de Thrace), les habitants de la ville ont créé le Parti
de la dernière
chance (Son çare partisi). Les symboles de leur parti sont la
pelle, la
pioche et le cercueil « pour enterrer les autres
partis ».
On
note aussi qu’aux portes de certains villages, des habitants
désabusés
par les promesses électorales, ont planté des panneaux
invitant les
candidats en tournée électorale à rebrousser
chemin.
Les
brutalités policières observées lors de la
manifestation pacifique des
membres de HÖC montrent une nouvelle fois le caractère
illusoire de la
démocratisation de la Turquie et donne une nouvelle fois raison
aux millions de protestataires qui boudent les élections.
(Halkin
Sesi, 18
juillet 2007)
21-year
balance-sheet of Human Rights Association (IHD)
Statement by President of Human Rights Association (IHD), Ms. Reyhan
Yalcindag, on the occasion of the 21st Anniversary of the organization:
Today, 17th July 2007, Human Rights Association (IHD) celebrates its
21st year. As you may know it is the first time that a human rights
organization, in Turkey, celebrates its 21st year. IHD’ 21st year
struggle for human rights, democracy, peace is important not only for
itself but also for human rights movement in Turkey, Region and the
World.
IHD continues its struggle, which started by 98 persons in 1986, with
33 branches, 4 representative offices and over 10.000 members and
activists.
Human Rights Association is the oldest and largest civil society
organization to take up the struggle for human rights. The association
conducted its works in the most difficult circumstances in the wake of
the 12 September 1980 military coup, and over the dark years of the
late 1980s and early 1990s. There are many activities, such as;
campaigns, preparing reports and so on, during the 20 years period of
IHD. These activities are carried out for many purposes. For example;
abolishing death penalty and DGM (State Security Court), freedom of
expression, finding disappeared persons, peace, amnesty that aims to
social peace, signature campaign for persons that expelled from their
positions because of "1402" article, Not to Be Silent against Torture,
Equal opportunities for disabled persons etc… IHD carried out an
effective struggle against torture. Human Rights Association founded
TIHV (Turkish Human Rights Foundation) for treatment and rehabilitation
of torture victims.
Human Rights Association has been subjected to incredible pressures in
its struggle. IHD’s 21 members were killed during since our foundation.
Akın Birdal, who is one of the chairpersons of IHD, was shot by guns.
Fortunately, he is still alive. Physical pressures have continued even
after the assassination. There are many investigations and court cases
against our administrators and members. İHD’s many branches were closed
by the decisions of administration for a period. We are compelled to
carry out our activities under the pressure of investigation and court
cases.
IHD demands peace and democracy in all over the world. IHD will
continue its struggle in all over Turkey and World by hand in hand with
other human rights defenders. IHD wishes a world without any violation.
(IHD, 17 July 2007)
IHD: 225 personnes tuées dans les violences
depuis le début de l'année
225 personnes ont été tuées dans des violences qui
ont augmenté depuis
le début de l'année dans l'est et le sud-est anatoliens
entre forces de
sécurité et rebelles kurdes, a annoncé vendredi la
principale
organisation turque de défense des droits de l'Homme.
Deux soldats et deux membres du parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan
(PKK, interdit) ont par ailleurs été tués dans des
incidents survenus
tard jeudi et vendredi dans trois provinces de l'est et du sud-est,
théâtres de la lutte armée du PKK depuis 1984, ont
indiqué les
autorités locales.
Un soldat a été blessé, a-t-on
précisé de même source.
"Nous constatons une sérieuse augmentation du nombre des heurts
quotidiens", a indiqué lors d'une conférence de presse
Mihdi Perinçek,
responsable régional à Diyarbakir, principale ville du
sud-est peuplé
majoritairement de kurdes, de l'Association des droits de l'Homme (IHD).
"Nous nous inquiétons du fait que les accrochages
s'étalent sur une grande zone", a-t-il souligné.
Selon un décompte de l'IHD, utilisant sources officielles et
indépendantes, 111 membres des forces de l'ordre, 109 rebelles
du PKK
et cinq civils ont été tués dans la région
de début janvier à fin juin.
Dans la même période de 2006, ce chiffre était de
190 morts, a affirmé l'IHD.
Sur son site internet, l'état-major des armées turques a
fait savoir
que 100 rebelles avaient été tués entre avril et
juin, sans dire
combien de militaires ont perdu la vie pendant cette période.
(AFP, 13 juil 2007)
MHP leader Bahçeli vows to hang PKK leader
MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, speaking as a guest on the evening
news of
the Star television channel on Thursday said Öcalan, the jailed
leader
of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), could be hanged according to the
result of a referendum to reintroduce the death penalty for crimes of
terrorism and during times of war and martial law if the nation grants
the MHP a numerical majority in Parliament. “If I have 367 deputies,”
Bahçeli said, referring to the minimum number of legislators
needed for
a constitutional amendment, “I would bring back the death penalty, heal
this social wound and ensure that justice is done.”
He also claimed that if his party was in government, they -- despite
opposition from the US -- would not hesitate to launch a military
incursion into northern Iraq, which harbors PKK militants in its
borders “at a time when Turkey’s integrity is at stake.” Bahçeli
continued expressing his view that the military should strike the
Kandil Mountains. “First we would explain our reasons to the US. If it
is not convinced, that would mean that it has other concerns. I am
obliged to protect the independence, territorial integrity and the
peace of my country; the unity and solidarity of my nation,” he said.
On the issue of the headscarf ban in Turkish universities,
Bahçeli said
Turkey needed to make a distinction between a person who receives the
services of the state and a person who delivers that particular
service.
Bahçeli said his party aimed at forming a single-party
government and
was not considering a coalition with the Republican People’s Party
(CHP), citing his belief that this was not in accordance with political
ethics. He also said his party was not considering a coalition with
other parties, which are not very different from each other.
Stating his views on the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), he
referred to that party as a “political extension of separatist
activities.” He also criticized the Justice and Development Party (AK
Party) for its alleged plans of receiving the support of DTP deputies
in Parliament. He said the two parties openly supported each other.
(The New Anatolian, 13 July 2007)
Politicians Clamouring for Death Penalty
Politicians are using the death penalty as a cheap means of scoring
points against each other.
In the pursuit of votes, there are no discourses of peace, democracy or
human rights. Rather, nationalism, racism and discrimination are rife.
Thus the killing of people by the state, the death penalty, has become
a topic of discussion again.
According to Prof. Dr. Melek Göregenli, who has conducted research
on
perceptions on torture in Turkey, most people consider cases in two
categories, those that deserve the death penalty, and those who do not.
This means that nearly everyone may have a list of those who deserve
"the death penalty, torture, maltreatment, rape, or exploitation". A
kind of list of "people who do not deserve human rights".
Death penalty competition
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) and Devlet Bahceli of the Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) are publicly arguing about whose fault it is that PKK
leader Abdullah Öcalan was not hanged after his capture in 1999.
It started with Erdogan saying, "You don't become nationalist by saying
you are nationalist. They give you the head of a terrorist leader as a
present. You put him in prison in Imrali [a prison island in the
Marmara Sea] and let the AKP pay the bill."
Erdogan was addressing the MHP who was a coalition partner in
government at the time of Öcalan's capture. The same government
also
abolished the death penalty in order to comply with EU criteria.
Bahceli replied at a rally in eastern Turkey: "Instead of accusing the
MHP of not hanging him, if you cannot find rope, here is some rope, if
you can hang the separatist leader, hang him". He shouted at a person
behind him on stage, "give it here", and the man quickly took a rope
out of his jacket or from around his waist, and gave it to Bahceli, who
then threw it into the crowd. It was obvious that this whole spectacle
was staged. A bad script, a bad performance, and bad intentions!
Erdogan's answer was not slow in coming: "If you are so skillful [with
the rope], if only people had sent you rope when you were in
government, and you could have finished the job".
Meanwhile, Yasar Nuri Öztürk, a popular
theologian-turned-politician
who recently founded the "People's Ascent party" (HYP), has said that
they would widen the scope of the death penalty and bring it back.
Another candidate in the upcoming elections, Kemal Yavuz, standing as
an independent candidate, but with a Great Union Party (BBP)
background, was able to say in a discussion programme on TV 8 that
"terrorists and traitors deserve the death penalty".
The print media has also contributed to the reintroduction of a
discussion on the death penalty. Radikal newspaper editor-in-chief
Ismet Berkan wrote, "The [Kurdish] problem will not be solved with the
hanging of Abdullah Öcalan; if it were, I would support his
hanging,
although I am against the death penalty."
What about human rights?
Whoever reads about human rights knows that the most basic right is the
right to life, which cannot be violated under any circumstances. The
state cannot only not violate this right; it also has the duty to
protect the right to life.
Furthermore, this right is universal and cannot be ignored in the case
of specific persons.
In October 2005, Turkey ratified the second optional protocol of the
United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , which
guarantees countries' commitment to the abolishment of the death
penalty. In addition, it has also signed the 13th protocol of the
European Convention of Human Rights, which says that "the death penalty
is to be abolished even during war and when there is a threat of war".
Death penalty not a deterrent
It is important here to remember that the death penalty, despite
arguments to the contrary, does not act as an effective deterrent.
According to research of the Death Penalty Information Centre in the
USA, there is no proof that executions lower crime rates:
* The crime rate in states with the death penalty is higher by 44
percent than in states without it.
* The number of murders in the USA is four times higher than the number
of murders in Europe, which does not apply the death penalty.
Furthermore, death is a punishment that cannot be revoked. According to
Amnesty International, 122 of the people executed in the USA since 1973
were later found to be innocent.
In Turkey rise in nationalism
Political parties in Turkey are not doing anything to address any of
the pressing problems, such as the Kurdish issue, human rights,
democracy, labour rights, poverty, social rights and social policies.
As the General Staff is pushing for "parties of security", political
parties are forced to compete in nationalism.
Politicians and Journalists calling for a return to the death penalty,
should do the following:
* be educated in basic human rights
* read the Charter of Journalists' Rights and Responsibilities, which
declares that defending human rights is a duty. (BIA News Center, Tolga
Korkut, July 11, 2007)
Turkey Guilty of Hindering Communication
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has sentenced Turkey to
paying 1,000 Euros compensation and legal expenses to prisoner Erdal
Tan.
Tan had sent a letter to the Radikal newspaper in which he described
the degrading conditions of the notorious F-type prisons. Prison
authorities had prevented the sending of the letter, which, according
to the ECHR, represented a "violation of the right to communication".
According to Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights,
entitled "Right to respect of privacy and family life", everyone has
the right that their "private life and family life, housing and
communication" are respected.
32-year-old Tan, sentenced to twelve years imprisonment in the F-type
Sincan prison in Turkey's capital Ankara, had written a letter to the
newspaper in 2002. Prison authorities had argued that the letter "would
create problems" and had refused to send it.
Tan then applied to the ECHR, arguing that his right to communication
had been violated.
In yesterday's (3 July) decision, the ECHR also noted that in the
regulations of penal institutions, the degree to which authorities can
intervene in the communications of prisoners is not clearly
defined.(BIA News Center, July 5, 2007)
Amnesty
dénonce l'impunité accordée aux tortionnaires
Policiers et gendarmes turcs continuent à
bénéficier d'une impunité
inacceptable, estime l'organisation de défense des droits de
l'Homme
Amnesty, qui les accuse de pratiquer torture, mauvais traitements et
homicides.
"Les enquêtes et poursuites judiciaires découlant de
sérieuses
violations de droits de l'Homme commises par des policiers et des
gendarmes sont bâclées, ce qui est encore aggravé
par les décisions
aléatoires des juges et procureurs", dénonce
l'organisation dans un
communiqué vendredi, à l'occasion de la publication d'un
rapport sur la
Turquie.
"Le résultat, c'est que les victimes de violations de droits de
l'Homme
n'obtiennent justice que tardivement ou pas du tout", ajoute Amnesty.
"Le système pénal turc doit être
réformé. Il doit fermement placer la
protection des droits de l'Homme des citoyens au-dessus de ce qui est
perçu comme les intérêts des institutions ou des
responsables de
l'Etat", avance Nicola Duckworth, directeur d'Amnesty pour l'Europe et
l'Asie centrale, dans le communiqué.
Le rapport intitulé "Turquie: la culture enracinée de
l'impunité doit
cesser" examine les facteurs contribuant à l'impunité des
forces de
l'ordre, notamment les délais administratifs, les défauts
de procédures
judiciaires et l'intimidation exercée à l'encontre de
défenseurs des
droits de l'Homme ou des journalistes.
Le rapport répertorie tortures et mauvais traitement
infligés lors de
détentions arbitraires, pendant et après des
manifestations, ou en
prison. Il dénonce aussi des procès au cours desquels des
déclarations
obtenues sous la torture représentent le principal
élément à charge de
l'accusation et sont admis dans la procédure. (AFP, 4 juil 2007)
Death Penalty Becomes Election Fodder
Although the death penalty was abolished in Turkey, politicians have
brought up the issue again. The ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Republican People's
Party (CHP) are competing in racist policies towards the Kurds in
Turkey.
The AKP asked the MHP, "Why did you not hang Abdullah Öcalan?",
referring to the MHP's time in the coalition government which abolished
the death penalty. As a result, the leader of the Kurdish Workers'
Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan is in prison.
The MHP retorted by calling on the AKP to hang him.
As the leader of the main opposition party, CHP chairperson Deniz
Baykal did not respond strongly enough to this discussion. He settled
for saying, "It is wrong to reduce the issue of terrorism to a
discussion of the death penalty". Does that mean that the death penalty
is wrong, or merely the reduction? (BIA News Center, July 4, 2007)
37 victims of Sivas Massacre commemorated
More than 7,000 people who arrived in Sivas in eastern
Turkey
yesterday, shouted: "One day things will change and the murderers will
pay back. Murderers burned and the state watched. Sivas will be a grave
for fascism." The crowd gathered to commemorate 14 years since
the
Madımak massacre of July 2, 1993 when fundamentalists attacked the
Madımak Hotel with fire, burning and suffocating to death 37
intellectuals.
After meeting in Ethem Bey Park, crowds walked to Madımak Hotel, which
gives its name to the massacre, under heavy security at the entrances
of the city. "When I saw Madımak, I wanted to cry. I feel pain, deep
pain, and shame," said Edibe Sulari, a retired teacher, who came to
Sivas from Mersin for the first time in his life, but could not enter
the hotel. "There is no politician sharing our pain today. They will
pay the price in the elections," said Sulari. The Alevi associations
and leftist unions arranged the rally and the only politician who
attended the demonstration was Mustafa Sarıgül, Mayor of Şişli,
one of
Istanbul's districts. The crowds criticized Turkish politicians since
no party members attended. Criticism of the government continued during
the meeting held in front of the hotel for not bringing to justice the
murderers. "We came from Germany and Belgium. Our aim is to
gather
100,000 people," said Devran Başkaya a member of Germany Alevi Unions
Federation.
"I remember that day. We were in our shop. People were on the roof of
the building in front of Madımak. They were throwing stones. Nobody
understood what was going on," said Ahad Türkmenoğlu, a native of
Sivas
who works there as a tradesman. Most of the people in Sivas did not
participate in the rally and preferred to watch silently from their
homes. Fear was written on some of the faces. Perhaps fear of another
possible attack. "They weren't burned. They chocked to death from
the
smoke. The ones who did this are not from Sivas," said a jewelry
shopkeeper. He said that Sivas is a modern city, known as a haven for
leftists. A the Madımak Hotel in Sivas 14 years ago, Islamist
fundamentalist murdered 37 leftist intellectuals, most of them Alevis
who came to Sivas to commemorate a 16th-century poet, Pir Sultan Abdal,
hanged for opposing religious oppression. Islamic extremists chanting
anti-secularist slogans had blocked firefighters from entering the
blazing hotel. Chairman of the Pir Sultan Abdal Association, Kazım
Genç
argued that the jurisdiction about July 2 could not be completed since
nine of the defendants could not be found. The chairman of the
Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) Ismail HattI Tombul
argued that "Turkey is not secular, but it will be secular" since
religious education is controlled by state. More than 30 Islamic
extremists convicted in the attack are serving life in prison. Several
others were also imprisoned for their roles.
The main wish of some of the people present was to turn Madımak Hotel
into a museum to commemorate that day. "I can't understand why this
Hotel is still operating," said Seyit Dursun Ertürk after walking
over
a kilometer to reach Madımak from his home. The grandson of the owners
of Madımak Hotel, Bener Öğütçü, expressed his
thoughts to the Turkish
Daily News while the crowds were demonstrating. "We are ready to
sacrifice our profits for one day on July 2. We emptied our hotel
today. However, it is the only source of income for our family. With
our workers, 12 families are surviving because of this Hotel," said
Öğütçü. He opposed turning the Hotel into a
museum, pointing that the
hotel is their private property. Madımak is a small hotel with 30 rooms
and 45 beds. The owners preserved the outside of the hotel as it was 14
years ago although there were some interior renovations. "We are afraid
of reactions. The name of our hotel has become politicized," said
Öğütçü. (TDN, July 3, 2007)
Pression
sur les médias / Pressure on the Media
Un auteur de livres contre le gouvernement
inculpé et écroué
Un auteur turc connu pour ses livres attaquant violemment le
gouvernement issu de la mouvance islamiste a été
inculpé et écroué tard
lundi pour des liens présumés avec un groupuscule
ultra-nationaliste
clandestin, a rapporté l'agence Anatolie.
Ergün Poyraz a été inculpé par une cour
d'Istanbul sous plusieurs chefs
d'accusation, notamment "appartenance à une organisation
illégale" et
"obtention de document classifiés concernant la
sécurité de l'Etat",
précisé l'agence.
M. Poyraz avait été arrêté la semaine
dernière à son domicile à Ankara
avant d'être transféré à Istanbul pour y
être interrogé par la police.
Lors de sa détention, il a été victime d'un
malaise cardiaque et a été traité à
l'hôpital.
Il est soupçonné d'avoir des liens avec un groupe
visé par la police
depuis la découverte lors d'une perquisition à Istanbul
de 27 grenades
et des détonateurs.
La police a arrêté plusieurs suspects, dont des militaires
à la
retraite, et saisi lors de nouvelles perquisitions des armes, des
explosifs et des documents militaires, ont rapporté les
médias.
Selon la presse, le groupe est proche d'élements
incontrôlés des forces
de sécurité agissant illégalement pour
défendre ce qu'ils considèrent
comme les intérêts nationaux.
Les médias ont également lié ce groupe à
l'auteur d'un attentat contre
le Conseil d'Etat qui avait tué un juge et en avait
blessé quatre
autres l'an dernier à Ankara.
Ergün Poyraz est l'auteur de plusieurs livres à
succès visant des
membres du Parti de la justice et du développement (AKP) au
pouvoir.
Dans son livre "Les enfants de Moïse: Tayyip et Emine", Poyraz
décrit
le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan et son épouse Emine
comme des
crypto-juifs travaillant pour le compte des services secrets
israéliens
pour affaiblir le régime laïque turc. (AFP, 31 juil 2007)
Doz Publishing Editor Vural Still on Trial
The case against Ali Riza Vural editor at Doz Publishing continues. Doz
had published Mesut Barzani's two-volume "Barzani and the Kurdish
National Freedom Movement" in February 2003, and then in a second
edition in 2005.
Vural is on trial for "insulting and deriding the Republic in print".
The case continued on 18 July, but the Beyoglu Penal Court (Istanbul)
has decided to wait for a file on Ahmet Zeki Okcuoglu who has
previously been tried in relation to the book.
Beyoglu prosecutor Nihat Erdem cited Article 301/2 in his indictment of
5 October 2005 and demanded three years imprisonment for Vural. The
case will continue on 28 November.
The following sentences have been deemed problematic:
"The Kurds started one rebellion after the other. They rose against the
regional states that were seizing their rights in favour of
imperialists. All rebellions were suppressed with violence. In Turkey,
Mustafa Kemal [Atatürk] oppressed the Kurds very harshly."
"And this although he was only able to form the Republic, drive the
Greeks from Turkish soil and convince the Entente powers to recognise
the Turkish state with the help of the Kurds. At the beginning, Mustafa
Kemal made generous promises to the Kurds, but as soon as his position
was firm, he forgot his promises."
In another part of the book, the forced Armenian emigration is written
about.
There are also memoirs of Mesut Barzani's father, Molla Mustafa Barzani
(1903-1979).
In yesterday's Radikal (26 July), newly-elected lawyer Aysenur
Bahcekapili (Justice and Development Party, AKP) was asked about
Vural's case by reporter İsmail Saymaz. She said:
"I agree with criticism on this issue. I respect the amendments, but
these laws were all made in the spirit of the 12 September [military
coup] constitution. I am for a liberal law and pluralism. We will work
towards changing the laws which are incongruous with a constitution
prepared according to our beliefs. Of course, Article 301 is one of
these." (BIA News Center, July 30, 2007)
Arrestation d'un auteur de pamphlets
anti-gouvernement à succès
La police turque a arrêté vendredi pour des liens
supposés avec un
groupuscule ultra-nationaliste clandestin un auteur de pamphlets
à
succès attaquant violemment le gouvernement issu de la mouvance
islamiste, ont affirmé des sources proches de l'enquête.
Ergün Poyraz a été interpelé tôt
vendredi à son domicile à Ankara avant
d'être transféré à Istanbul pour y
être interrogé par la police.
Il est soupçonné de liens avec un groupe
ultra-nationaliste visé par la
police depuis la découverte lors d'une perquisition dans une
cache
d'armes à Istanbul de 27 grenades et de plusieurs
détonateurs.
La police a arrêté plusieurs suspects, dont des militaires
à la
retraite, et saisi lors de nouvelles prequisitions des armes, des
explosifs et des documents militaires, ont rapporté les
médias.
Le groupe est selon la presse proche de l'"Etat profond" -une
expression utilisée en Turquie pour désigner des
éléments incontrôlés
des forces de sécurité agissant illégalement pour
défendre ce qu'ils
considèrent comme les intérêts nationaux.
Les médias ont également lié ce groupe à
l'auteur d'un attentat contre
le Conseil d'Etat, la plus haute juridiction administrative turque, qui
avait tué un juge et en avait blessé quatre autres l'an
dernier à
Ankara.
Après avoir déposé devant la police, Poyraz sera
déféré devant un juge
qui décidera de son éventuelle inculpation et de son
placement ou non
en détention provisoire.
Ergün Poyraz est l'auteur de plusieurs livres à
succès visant des
membres du gouvernement et du Parti de la justice et du
développement
(AKP) au pouvoir.
Dans son livre "Les enfants de Moïse: Tayyip et Emine", Poyraz
décrit
le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan et son épouse Emine
comme des
crypto-juifs travaillant pour le compte des services secrets
israéliens
à l'affaiblissement du régime laïque turc.
Dans d'autres ouvrages, l'auteur prête des origines kurdes au
chef de
la diplomatie Abdullah Gül et décrit le président du
Parlement Bülent
Arinç comme le descendant d'un ancien dignitaire religieux
hostile à la
République turque.
L'AKP, issu de la mouvance islamiste mais qui se définit
aujourd'hui
comme démocrate et conservateur, est régulièrement
accusé par les
milieux laïques de vouloir islamiser la Turquie en catimini. (AFP,
27
juil 2007)
Yet Another 301 Case Against a Journalist
Umut Karakoyun, owner of the local "Tunceli Emek" newspaper in Tunceli,
eastern Anatolia, is being tried under Article 301 for accusing the
judiciary of bias.
Karakoyun has claimed that the Tunceli governor's office obstructed
advertisements in an arbitrary manner and had written about the
governor's press and PR manager Elif Polat. Karakoyun is also accused
of "insulting a public officer through the media".
The case continued at the Tunceli Penal Court on 24 July and was
postponed until 21 September for the Republican prosecutor Ali Cetin
Yilmaz to prepare his deliberations.
The hearing was attended by lawyer Erdal Dogan who represented Umut
Karakoyun, and by plaintiff Polat.
Dogan demanded that the journalist's aunt Hüsniye Karakoyun be
heard as
a witness. The court accepted the demand and listened to Hüsniye
Karakoyun, a primary school teacher. She testified that her nephew
faced various limitations and impositions by the governor and the
governor's press and PR manager when trying to publish the newspaper.
She said, "Umut Karakoyun wrote the article because of the pressure."
Elif Polat, however, denied being part of any kind of imposition.
Umut Karakoyun said, "I believe that the article, which was written
after Elif Polat exerted pressure on me and my newspaper, does not
include any insult. All the proof is in the case file."
The local newspaper had published the statement "We have witnessed how
biased the judiciary is operating. In the corridors of the law court"
in its issue of 3-6 October 2006. This statement as well as the claim
that the governor had not replied to applications, and that manager
Polat was being protected had lead to the journalist being put on trial
on 30 November 2006. (BIA, July 28, 2007)
Censorship Survives Despite the 99th Celebration
of Its Abolition
Before publishing their yearly ranking of countries according to the
degree of freedom of the press they allow, the International Reporters
Without Borders (RSF) send reporters and media organisations a
questionnaire.
The questionnaire includes the following categories:
Attacks, arrests and threats
Threats and interference when trying to access news
Illegal frameworks and arbitrary court cases
Censorship and auto-censorship
Public media
Administrative and financial pressure
Internet and new media
When one reads those headings, one is reminded of many events in Turkey
in 2007 which have moved it further down the ranks.
We live in a country which celebrates the 99th anniversary of the
abolishment of censorship, but in reality it has become difficult to
even discuss the censorship and auto-censorship which operate at
government level, in public institutions, and in commercial groups.
A fitting example is this country's Prime Minister, who has been keen
to get publicly even with a caricature magazine he probably does not
even read. Think what the Prime Ministerial Office is capable of then...
Europe has interpreted the election success of the Justice and
Development Party (AKP) as the result of "popular leadership". Is it
just us who did not understand that Erdogan's court cases against
dozens of journalists and caricaturists were part of a grand election
campaign?
A company can claim millions of YTL in compensation because a news item
has "reduced its commercial credibility". Someone else wants 300,000
YTL from a local newspaper which covered complaints about workers'
rights.
Whenever the government uses the Savings Deposits Insurance Fund (TMSF)
to confiscate media groups because of debts or "irregularities", there
are increased claims of interference in the publications/broadcasts.
The TMSF denies such interferences.
Let us make it clear how esteemed the journalism profession is in
Turkey: Hrant Dink was killed; the number of attacks on journalists has
reached two-digit numbers, and it has become commonplace for reporters
to receive threats.
How will our ranking be affected by the fact that dozens of
journalists, writers and academics are forced to apply for police
protection?
We have become used to journalists being tried in the same court rooms
as drug dealers, armed robbers and the finance mafia, ...what is new is
the pressure on journalists to reveal their sources...
The main opposition party has not deemed it necessary to lobby for the
freedom of expression and the press; can the government put an end to
the hypocrisy with its cries for a continuation of EU reforms? At least
we can send a louder voice to the new parliament.
Last year Turkey ranked 98th out of 168 countries, and it shared this
position with Bhutan and the Ivory Coast.
This year, we may sink even lower.... (BIA News Center, Erol Onderoglu,
July 25, 2007)
Turkey convicted twice for limiting the freedom of
expression
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has condemned Turkey for
"limiting the freedom of expression", when the "Yedinci Gündem"
newspaper was banned in the Emergency Law (OHAL) Regions by the
regional governor.
The ECHR also criticised the fact that it has not been possible to
appeal against OHAL decisions and found this to be inconsistent with
the "right to effective appeals to the court" (Article 13 of the
European Convention on Human Rights).
The newspaper, which had first been published on 23 June, was banned
from the OHAL regions four days later. When legal appeals were
fruitless, its 10 employees applied to the ECHR.
Hünkar Demirel, Evrim Alatas, Lales Arslan, Mehmet Burtakucin,
Zeynal
Akgül, Abdulvahap Taş, Azad Özkeskin, Bozkur Mevlüt,
Ragıp Zarakolu and
Hıdır Ates argued that there had been an infringement on their rights
according to Articles 10 and 13 of the European Convention of Human
Rights.
In its decision today (24 July), the ECHR decided unanimously that
interference with the newspaper's activities was "unnecessary in a
democratic society" and in violation of Article 10.
In a second case, the ECHR found Turkey to be in the wrong when it
convicted Hasan Celal Güzel, chairperson of the Renaissance Party
(YDP), for his criticism of then President Süleyman Demirel.
Güzel had written an article entitled "If you are President, act
like a
president", published in the "Yeni Günaydin" newspaper on 23 June
1997.
He faced several trials from 1997 to 1998 and was convicted, even if
his sentences were delayed.
Again, the ECHR decreed unanimously that freedom of expression had been
violated illegitimately. The ECHR does not demand compensation, but
5,000 YTL legal costs for Güzel. (BIA News Center, July 25, 2007)
Ragip Zarakolu received awards in Sarajevo and
Istanbul
The chief editor/owner of the international publishing house BELGE, Mr.
Ragip Zarakolu was invited by IAGS (International Association of
Genocide Scholars) to talk at the Conference in Sarajevo which was held
between 9-14 July. Zarakolu talked about the struggle in Turkey
against genocide denialism and on the Armenian-Turkish Dialogue.
Zarakolu also received an award from IAGS honoring his work for
minority rights and for the acknowledgement of Armenian Genocide. Carla
Del Ponte, Prosecutor of International Criminal Tribune; Deborah
Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies at
Emory University; Erik Markusen, Research Director of Department
for Holocaust and Genocide Studies of Danish Institute for
International Studies; Helen Fein, Executive Director of
Institute for the Study of Genocide at John Jay College of Criminal
Justice, City University of New York had other IAGS Awards.
In Istanbul, Mr. Zarakolu received the Turkish Publisher’s
Association’s Award for Freedom of Expression for his life-time
contributions for freedom of thought. Mr. Zarakolu received the Award
in a ceremony at the Taxim Hill Hotel on June 28th. Ms. Elif
Safak , a writer wo was threatened by ultra nationalist circles
during last year, and Mr. Esan Alis ,a bookseller who worked for 50
years in the Black Sea town of Bartin, also received awards.
Dora Sakayan’s Trial was postponed
until October 3rd
The trial against Mr. Zarakolu, regarding Ms. Dora Sakayan’s
book, “An Armenian Doctor in Turkey / Garabed Hatcherian: My
Smyrna Ordeal of 1922” was postponed until October 3rd.
During the last trial on May 3rd the Court acquitted Mr. Zarakolu, as
publisher, but the Court decided to prosecutethe translator of the
book, Mr. Attila Tuygan, instead of Mr. Zarakolu. This trial began in
2005.
George Jerjian’s Trial was
postponed October 3rd
The trial against Mr. Zarakolu, regarding Mr. George Jerjian’s
book, “The Truth will set us Free/ Armenians and Turks
Reconciled” was postponed until October 3rd. During the last trial on
June 26 the Court received a new report about the book.by an
academic expert. New report declared, that there is not enough proof
for legal prosecution on the base of insulting turkishness and the
turkish state. This trial began in 2005.
A New Inquiry was opened
regarding our recently published book
“What is the Use of The Army?”
The General Staff of the Turkish Army requested that an inquiry
be opened regarding Erol Ozkoray’s book, “What is the Use of the Army”.
A judicial decision of the prosecutor’s office was reached to cancel
the inquiry. The book will not go to trail now. (Belge, July 21, 2007)
Deux journalistes
kurdes iraniens condamnés à mort
Deux journalistes kurdes iraniens, Adnan Hassanpour et Hiva Botimar,
ont été condamnés à mort le 16 juillet pour
"espionnage" par un
tribunal iranien, a affirmé vendredi l'Institut kurde de Paris,
qui
demande une "intervention urgente de la communauté
internationale".
Les deux hommes ont été condamnés par le "tribunal
révolutionnaire" de
Marivan et ont été transférés à la
prison centrale de Sanandaj, en vue
de l'exécution de leur condamnation, selon la même source.
Ces deux journalistes collaboraient au magazine Aso (Horizons),
publié
en kurde et en persan à Sanandaj. Cette publication a
été interdite par
les autorités iraniennes en août 2005.
Amnesty International, qui avait fait état de l'arrestation de
Hassanpour en janvier 2007, le présente également comme
un "défenseur
des droits culturels des kurdes iraniens".
"Sans une intervention urgente de la communauté internationale,
les
deux journalistes kurdes risquent d'être exécutés",
déclare l'Institut
kurde de Paris dans un communiqué. (AFP, 20 juil 2007)
Daily Güncel Stopped, Representative Detained...
After the Gündem newspaper has been closed
for 15 days for
"spreading terrorist propaganda", a heavy penal court in Istanbul has
decided to close the Güncel newspaper, which it sees as
Gündem's
continuation, for 12 days.
A heavy penal court in Istanbul has stopped the "Güncel" newspaper
from
publishing for twelve days, arguing that it is the continuation of the
"Gündem" newspaper which has been closed for 15 days.
"Gündem" had been closed on 15 July 2007 for an article on
pre-election
opinions in Batman, a province in the south-east of Turkey, published
on 12 July and entitled: "Batman's message: Look after the guerrillas".
Mehmet Samur, the editor-in-chief of the "Güncel" newspaper
evaluated
its closure in the daily "Evrensel" newspaper as "election censorship".
The newspaper will be closed until 28 July, six days after the general
elections take place.
Samur argued that there was no legal basis for the closure. The fact
that "Gündem" and "Güncel" are published by the same company
does not
imply a relationship of continuity. Major media groups, he argued, were
not treated in this way.
He added that the decision was illegal and antidemocratic, and that
"they want to silence the Kurdish and the oppositional press". (BIA
News Center, July 17, 2007)
Governor’s Office Banned the Concert of a Greek Singer
The concert of Greek musician Georgios Dalaras to be held today in
Rumelihisarı has been banned by Istanbul governor’s office on the
grounds that their documents were incomplete.
Georgios Dalaras was going to give a concert as part of “the 2nd.
International Conference of Orthodox Youth” which opened with 788
people from 37 countries.
Stopping of a concert by the authorities in Istanbul which has gained
the name of “cultural capital” is about to turn to an international
scandal. (antenna-tr.org, July 17, 2007)
Gündem Newspaper Closed for Fifteen Days
A Heavy Penal Court in Istanbul has decided to close the "Gündem"
newspaper for fifteen days. Cause for the closure was an article
published on 12 July in issued 132, entitled: "The Batman Message:
Stand By the Guerrillas".
The newspaper has been closed for 30 and 15 days before and has now
been closed for "spreading PKK propaganda in a call for violence".
Friday's issue (13 July) of the newspaper was confiscated.
Gündem's Editor-in-chief Yuksel Genc argued that the closure was a
violation of the freedom of the press. He said that the newspaper has
continually been targeted, but that the last two months seemed more
normal. "We find it meaningful that our newspaper is closed in the week
running up to the elections," he said. "It becomes clear once again
that in such a time, Kurds are silenced."
In the article, journalist Cengiz Kapmaz had been evaluating the
pre-election period in Batman, a province in the south-east of Turkey.
One worker who he spoke to had said:
"The people's expectations of the [pro-Kurdish] independent candidates
are very clear. The people are sending them to parliament not in order
to support PKK terrorism, but to support the people's children who are
struggling for their rights. They must not forget that. Those who call
[PKK leader] Abdullah Öcalan "honourable" whenever they mention
him, we
expect to attend the funerals of the people's children who are
killed."(BIA News Center, July 16, 2007)
Filtering company briefly blocks BIANET's website
A software company in Turkey recently blocked the BIANET website,
http://www.bianet.com , acting not on a court order but instead from a
list of "forbidden websites" allegedly based on a police list.
The discovery was made following readers' complaints of not being able
to access the BIANET website.
BIANET is concerned that a software application designed to protect
children from online violence and pornography, as well as to control
Internet use at work, has been used to stop readers from accessing news
websites instead.
The software company, My Yazilim, which produces Internet filters,
confirmed that BIANET was on the list but could not explain how it got
there. A company staff member said the list was based on the police's
list of objectionable websites.
Upon BIANET's complaint, the company announced on 27 June 2007 that
BIANET has been taken off the list and its website unblocked. The
assistant general manager, Yusuf Meral, said that they had identified
BIANET as a news site.
The company had been reluctant to oblige at first, arguing that the
block list was based on the police list. It said police regularly check
on Internet cafés - their most important clients - and will
punish
those found to have accessed such sites; hence the company has no
choice but to enforce the block list.
A police officer interviewed by BIANET said nearly every police unit
prepares a list of "objectionable sites" and sends it to police
stations in the provinces.
Yusuf Andic, the head of an Internet café association (TieV),
told
BIANET that district administration and police units have such lists,
and that Internet café owners manually add the sites on the
lists to
the filter programme. Some even ask authorities for the list.
He added that, according to information from the Ministry of the
Interior, Internet cafés are monitored twice a month. There are
about
15,000 to 20,000 Internet cafés in Turkey.
Lawyer Fikret Ilkiz said that such lists of "forbidden sites" are
illegal. The new Law No. 5651 on the preparation of Internet
publications and crimes connected with these publications, which came
into force on 23 May, defines Internet cafés as public use
providers
and holds them responsible for blocking access to sites with criminal
content. However, regulations laying down how this is supposed to be
done are not yet in effect, Ilkiz said.
"These regulations need to come out by 23 September. Until they do,
nobody is entitled to apply a legal article according to their personal
thoughts and opinions. If they do, this is illegal, because it is not
clear yet which sites are going to be designated 'harmful' by whom and
how," said Ilkiz.
Although BIANET has been taken off the list, other political
publications are still blocked. Among them are news sites
http://www.atilim.org and http://www.alinteri.org , and the old web
version of the "Özgür Gündem" daily,
http://www.gundemimiz.com .
(BIA-RSF/IFEX, July 13, 2007)
Trois collaborateurs du journal Agos à nouveau
devant le juge
Trois journalistes de l’hebdomadaire turco-arménien Agos
comparaîtront
devant la deuxième chambre du Tribunal correctionnel de Sisli,
à
Istanbul, le 18 juillet 2007. Serkis Seropyan, propriétaire du
journal
et Arat Dink, rédacteur en chef et fils du journaliste
assassiné, Hrant
Dink, sont accusés d’”insulte à l’identité
turque”, en vertu de
l’article 301 du code pénal. Aydin Engin, chroniqueur, est quant
à lui
poursuivi pour “insulte envers le tribunal”. Tous trois risquent entre
six mois et trois ans de prison.
Reporters sans frontières condamne les poursuites
engagées à l’encontre
des trois journalistes. “Il nous faut dénoncer ce procès,
notamment
l’utilisation de l’article 301, qui représente une grave menace
envers
la liberté d’expression. Nous appelons aujourd’hui les juges
à rendre
un verdict en conformité avec les valeurs de la
démocratie et de l’Etat
de droit”, a déclaré l’organisation de défense de
la liberté de la
presse.
Les propos sur lesquels l’accusation se fonde sont ceux
prononcés par
Hrant Dink, dans un entretien accordé à l’agence de
presse Reuters, en
juillet 2006. Il évoquait alors la mémoire collective
arménienne,
marquée par le génocide de 1915. Le journaliste Aydin
Engin est
poursuivi en raison d'une chronique intitulé "Il faut toucher
à la
justice", publiée le 14 octobre 2005, dans laquelle il
critiquait
vivement l'incompétence de la justice dans le cadre des
procès intentés
contre Agos.
Le 14 juin 2007, Aydin Engin, Arat Dınk et Serkis Seropyan avaient
été
acquittés. Ils étaient accusés de "tenter
d'influencer la justice"
(art. 288 du code pénal turc), sur la base de cette même
chronique.
(europe@rsf.org, 15 juillet 2007)
Arrest
warrant issued for author facing trial over history book
The 4 July 2007 hearing in the trial of Sirri Ozturk, publisher of
Sorun Publishers, and author Osman Tiftikci, author of the book "The
evolution of the army from Ottoman Times Until Today", was postponed.
The trial under Article 301, which was brought to court by the General
Staff, will continue on 3 October. An arrest warrant was issued for
Tiftikci in order to bring him to court. (BIANET/IFEX, 13 July 2007)
Academic Staff on Trial in Izmir
On 2 July, Izmir Penal Court of First Instance No 8 continued to hear
the case against Prof. Atilla Yayla on charges of "insulting
Atatürk"
launched in connection with the speech he made on 18 November 2006
during the panel "Social Impacts of EU-Turkey Relations" organized by
the Youth Wings of the AKP in Izmir.
The indictment wants Yayla to be sentenced according to the articles
1/1 and 2/1 of the Law on Crimes Committed Against Atatürk (Law No
5816) and Article 53 TPC for insulting Atatürk.
Nuray Kaya, correspondent with the daily Yeni Asir, who wrote the news
testified at the hearing to the effect that Yayla made a speech on the
relation of Turkey and Europe and said that Atatürk refers to
regression more than development. She added that she asked Yayla
whether she understood his expression correctly and Yayla confirmed her.
Atilla Yayla wanted to talk upon the testimony of the journalist and
said: "I talked about Kemalism, but not on Atatürk. I said in my
speech
that we are said that we were saved from Middle Ages by Republic and
this is arguable. And I stressed that the Europeans would ask why we
were putting the posters of sculptures of Atatürk everywhere."
The court decided to exempt Yayla from attending the hearings. Ali
Bulaç and three more persons who organised and attended the
activity
were decided to be heard as witnesses. The hearing as adjourned to a
later date. (Zaman-TIHV, July 2, 2007)
Dink, Zarakolu and Cayligil Awarded
The Turkey Journalists' Association (TGC) has been awarding a Press
Freedom Prize since 1989 and has now announced this year's recipients.
The society has decided to award the prize to murdered journalist Hrant
Dink, publisher Ragip Zarakolu and lawyer Gülcin Cayligil in the
name
of all journalists and writers who have suffered under Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code.
The awards ceremony will be in Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, on 24 July.
An institutional award will be presented to the Turkey Journalists'
Trade Union (TGS) for its work for economic, social and syndicate
rights of journalists. (BIA News Center, July 11, 2007)
BIA Media Report-Full Text: State Violates, Who Pays?
The second quarterly BIA media report has been published,
making
for sobering reading. Journalists, newspapers, radio stations and
television channels are still often obstructed when trying to make use
of the right of freedom of expression.
The report witnessed the trial of 132
people and seven media organs.
Attacks and threats
A busload of journalists who were following Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan to a party rally in Nigde on 26 June, claim that they were
stopped by prime ministerial bodyguards, who held a gun to the bus
driver's head and stopped the bus from following the prime minister's
vehicle. Journalists Yalcin Bayer (Hurriyet newspaper), Hadi Ozisik
(Star newspaper) and Sedat Simsek (Bugun newspaper) were witnesses of
the threats. The Prime Ministerial Press Centre rejected their accounts
and said that the journalists had ignored warnings and were acting
threateningly themselves.
Omer Perperik, founder and columnist of the local Ekspres newspaper in
Mudanya (a district of Bursa, western Turkey), was punched by Mudanya
mayor Erol Demirhisar at a municipality meeting. The Mudanya
Journalists' Association condemned the attack.
In May, Dogan News Agency head clerk Ahmet Ertan was trying to film a
wedding convoy in Edremit (a district of Balıkesir, western Turkey).
Erhan claims that police stopped him from filming, insulted him in a
police vehicle, and forced him to delete recordings. The Balıkesir
Journalists' Society has condemned the incident as a "blow to the
freedom of speech".
Mehmet Eser, licence holder of Bingol's local Ab-i-Hayat newspaper, and
editor Faysal Sonakalan, are suing the regional director of education
Mehmet Ali Hansu for threatening them at his office. They say the
threats stem for their article on a local primary school which is not
earthquake proof. Bingol, in the east of Turkey, has witnessed the
deaths of many children in earthquakes.
Many journalists observing the trade unions' 1 May rally in Taksim,
Istanbul, claim they were targeted by police although they were
obviously journalists. Alper Turgut, Vedat Arik, Aynur Colak and Berat
Guncikan of the Cumhuriyet newspaper were injured or affected by tear
gas. Bulent Ergun of the Vatan newspaper was attacked and threatened
with arrest. Demet Bilge Ergun, Timur Soyka, Umay Aktas, and Ismail
Saymaz of the Radikal newspaper and Ihsan Yildiz of television channel
Kanal D were also attacked. A camera of Su TV was broken.
In Izmir, the office of local newspaper Yeni Asir was attacked and
damaged by football hooligans (supporting Goztepe football club) on 17
April. One person was later arrested.
Yuksel Mert, a TV presenter at the local Akdeniz TV station in Adana
(southern Turkey), and his guest, Zeki Kizilkaya, editor of the
regional Cukurova Merhaba newspaper, were attacked by three people
after they discussed corruption in a programme aired on 14 April. The
three attackers, said to be involved in corruption, were later arrested
for the attack.
Dogan Sonmez, reporter for the Venus radio station in Manavgat, Antalya
(southern Turkey), was attacked by an unknown person who came to the
station on 11 April. An investigation is underway.
Turkan Pampal, reporter for the 4 Temmuz newspaper in Karamursel
(district of Kocaeli, western Turkey), claims that she has been
threatened by leaders and members of the ruling Justice and Development
Party's (AKP) youth branch after criticising the government's health
policy. She has had no reply to her complaint to the prosecution, and
water supplies to her home
