Droits de l'Homme / Human Rights

Trade Unionists Face Prison

Ankara Prosecution office opened a case against 15 trade unionists including the president of Office Worker Union (BES) Mustafa Çınar, with the charge of violating the law on assembly and demonstrations. The prosecutor asked imprisonment between 3 and 5 years. Seven trade unionist in Diyarbakır already received 7,5 years prison sentence each.

Prosecutor Levent Savaş concluded the investigation on a demonstration held in 2006. Trade unionists demanded “justice in judicial system” at the demo.

Seven trade union members including Diyarbakır city chairman of teachers union İhsan Babaoğlu got condemned to 7.5 years prison sentence each. The sentences were postponed. (www.antenna-tr.org, September 28, 2007)

CEDH: la Turquie condamnée pour mauvais traitements en garde à vue

La Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme a condamné jeudi la Turquie pour des mauvais traitements infligés par la police à un ressortissant de 17 ans, auquel elle a alloué 5.000 euros pour dommage moral.

La Turquie a également été condamnée pour l'enquête ineffective menée sur les allégations de mauvais traitements subis par Siddik Onay en 2002 lors de sa garde à vue.

Alors âgé de 17 ans, le plaignant, soupçonné de vol à l'arraché, avait été placé en garde à vue le 26 mai 2002. Selon ses déclarations, on lui a bandé les yeux, on l'a aspergé d'eau, on lui a infligé des décharges électriques et on l'a frappé à l'aide de matraques pour lui faire avouer les actes qui lui étaient reprochés.

Deux examens médicaux ont révélé les jours suivants qu'il avait, sur la partie supérieure des bras, des ecchymoses remontant à deux ou trois jours. Des cicatrices sur ses bras et son torse ont également été observées. Son avocat déposa plainte contre les policiers.

Devant le procureur, M. Onay a réitéré ses plaintes, mais a admis qu'il s'était infligé lui-même, à l'aide d'un fil métallique, les marques sur ses bras et sur son poignet "parce qu'il ne supportait pas la douleur due aux mauvais traitements". Le procureur a alors décidé de ne pas poursuivre les policiers.

Dans son arrêt, la CEDH se déclare "frappée de voir que des blessures sont apparues, ont disparu, puis sont réapparues" dans les rapports médicaux.

Elle n'accorde dès lors "aucun poids aux conclusions figurant dans le rapport dans lequel aucun signe de violence n'est relevé" et concluent qu'il y a eu mauvais traitement en violation de l'article 3 de la Convention.

Concernant l'enquête, les juges de Strasbourg reprochent au procureur d'avoir négligé les contradictions des rapports médicaux et d'avoir fondé sa décision de ne pas poursuivre "uniquement" sur les déclarations où M. Onay a reconnu s'être lui-même fait des cicatrices. (AFP, 20 sept 2007)

Guernica, Picasso and the Turkish Judiciary

A recent ruling of the Appeal Court’s Penal Department N°8 says that Prof. Kaboğlu and Prof. Oran needed to be punished for “separatism” for they went beyond the limits of freedom of expression by separating “supra identity and sub identity” in the Minority Report.

This ruling “in the name of Turkish Nation”makes us all share responsibility. I have placed it next to Picasso’s famous Guernica so it may serve as a lesson.

Following Aziz Nesin’s advice I am suggesting to you not to take such absurdities seriously and laugh at them instead.

You might say “What are you doing, insulting the judicial system, article 301 etc?” Yes that is right! But who is really insulting the judicial system? Who disrespects the law? Us or those who are not embarrassed to declare taking such absurd decisions in our name?

GUERNICA and PICASSO

(Nazi planes were sent to help fascist Franco in 1937 during Spanish Civil War, and they left the town of Guernica in ruins killing hundreds of people, which was not a military target. Famous artist Pablo Picasso painted ‘Guernica’ so it would not be forgotten.)

Rumour says it that the German Ambassador visited the exhibition in Paris as Guernica was on it. After examining Guernica he approached to Picasso who was standing few steps away and said humiliatingly: “Did you make this?”
Picasso answered him calmly: “No Sir You Made it!”

LET’S JUDGE THE JUDICIARY

Following a series of recent court decision, Istanbul Administrative Court’s decision to call off “The Conference on Minorities” in Bosporus University, Şişli Primary Court’s decision condemning Hrant Dink under article 301 and high court’s decision approving that, Constitutional Court’s decision cancelling the first round of presidential elections, the last stroke that broke the camel’s back is the appeal court’s decision above. All that clearly shows that even if the whole constitution is changed, penal code and penal procedural law gets changed we will not be saved from embarrassment in the hands of such implementers.

Countries radically reforming their legal systems have faced similar problems during transition. As far as we know Bulgaria solved the problems by introducing an examination on legal system for all prosecutors and judges including the ones in the highest court. Those who failed were retired despite their professional background. Germany retired all judges and prosecutors in former East Germany. I am not sure what way would be taken here. But we have to solve this, since our judiciary insists in its intolerance to democracy.

To begin with, we decided to publish all court decision that “explicitly ignore law and make fun of us” on our website and as a book consequently so that it may serve as a lesson. We will add the legal documents. The story of the cases will be in accessible language and in newspaper report format. We would like to do that collectively with your contributions. We are especially asking the members of legal profession, lawyers, judges and prosecutors to send us the stroies of their experiences. We will get in touch with you for more information and documents as soon as you send a brief story of the event to info@antenna-tr.org.

Democracy does not fall out of sky, we should not hesitate to stick our hand into the fire to deserve it.

Yours Sincerely
Şanar Yurdatapan
(freeX@superonline.com, September 19, 2007)

Le 27e anniversaire noir du coup d'état de 1980 en Turquie

Le nouveau parlement doit éradiquer tous les vestiges du régime militaire

Communiqué de quatre organisations issues de l'émigration politique en provenance de Turquie:

Le 12 septembre 2007 est le 27e anniversaire noir du coup d'état militaire de 1980. Depuis 27 ans, malgré les manifestations des forces démocratiques, les pouvoirs politiques parlementaires ont toujours passé sous silence ce putsch criminel commis par des commandants de l'Armée turque. La constitution imposée par la junte reste toujours en vigueur. Les gouvernements successifs ont géré le pays en se soumettant toujours aux menaces et chantages de la hiérarchie militaire.

Les élections du 22 juillet 2007 ont créé une chance exceptionnelle pour briser ce carcan et éradiquer tous les vestiges du régime répressif instauré par les militaires.

En effet, pour la première fois dans l'histoire de la République de Turquie, l'Armée turque et ses alliés militaristes du monde politique ont subi une défaite cuisante aux élections législatives malgré les menaces, pressions, obstructions et chantages exercés depuis des mois.

Aujourd'hui, le Parti de la Justice et du Développement (AKP), issu de mouvance islamiste, détient à lui seul le pouvoir politique surtout après l'élection de son N°2, Abdullah Gül, à la présidence de la République. Il n'y a plus d'excuses pour justifier son retard dans la tenue de ses promesses en vue d'une véritable démocratisation dans ce pays se trouvant dans l'anti-chambre de l'Union Européenne.

De plus, malgré toutes les obstructions érigées à l'unanimité par les partis politiques non-kurdes représentés à l'Assemblée Nationale précédente, 20 députés kurdes ont fait leur entrée dans cette Assemblée et constituent le groupe politique du Parti pour une Société Démocratique (DTP).

Ayant ainsi un interlocuteur légitime, le pouvoir actuel composé du président de la République, du gouvernement uni-parti et de la majorité parlementaire a une chance historique de trouver une solution pacifique et honorable pour une coexistence pacifique et solidaire avec le peuple kurde et toutes les minorités ethniques et religieuses du pays.

Malgré une évolution favorable à la démocratisation, les déclarations illégales et provocatrices des chefs de l'Armée se poursuivent. Il s'agit d'ingérences inadmissibles dans la vie politique.

C'est la raison pour laquelle le nouveau Parlement doit immédiatement rendre caduque la constitution imposée en 1982 par la junte militaire et adopter une nouvelle constitution digne des normes démocratiques universelles et européennes.

Une des premières choses à faire dans le processus de démilitarisation est de soumettre le chef d'état-major à l'autorité du ministre de la défense nationale, de raboter les pouvoirs excessifs du Conseil de Sûreté Nationale (MGK) et du Conseil Militaire Supérieur (YAS).

Il faut également diminuer considérablement le budget des dépenses militaires utilisé pour opprimer le peuple kurde et menacer les pays avoisinants, notamment Chypre, l'Iraq, la Syrie, l'Arménie et l'Iran.

Si les chefs militaires persistent à poursuivre leurs ingérences et provocations, ils  doivent immédiatement être éloignés de leurs postes.

Le bilan noir du coup d'état militaire de 1980

Aujourd'hui, au 27e anniversaire du coup d'état du 12 septembre 1980, il faut rappeler, une fois de plus, les crimes commis par les putschistes qui demeurent toujours indemnes et impunis:

- Le coup d’état du 12 septembre 1980 était la deuxième phase d’un processus de militarisation dans tous les domaines du pays. Auparavant, le coup d'état du 12 mars 1971 avait déjà aboli ou détruit plusieurs droits et institutions démocratiques par l'application d'une répression sans précédent.
- La Constitution imposée en 1982 par la junte militaire a aboli les derniers vestiges des libertés reconnues par la Constitution de 1961. La constitution de 1982 nie les droits fondamentaux du peuple kurde et des minorités arménienne, assyrienne et grecque de la Turquie. Les articles 3, 42 et 66 prônent la supériorité et le monopole de la race et de la langue turques. L'article 4 déclare que l'Article 3 ne pourra jamais être modifié, même la modification de cet article ne pourra jamais être proposée.
- La domination de l'Armée sur la vie politique, économique et sociale du pays a été rendue intouchable par les privilèges reconnus par cette constitution au Conseil de Sûreté Nationale (MGK).
- En deux ans, plus de 650.000 personnes ont été arrêtées et soumises à la torture.
- Des milliers de personnes ont été rendues handicapées.
- 210.000 procès politiques ont été ouverts devant les cours militaires.
- 98.404 personnes ont été jugées en raison de leurs opinions.
- 6.353 personnes ont été jugées sous la menace de la peine capitale.
- 21.764 personnes ont été condamnées à de lourdes peines de prison.
- Cinquante personnes ont été exécutées à l'issue des procès politiques.
- Plusieurs condamnés ont perdu la vie en prison en raison de mauvais traitements ou lors d’une grève de la faim en protestation contre ces mauvais traitements.
- Des fichiers ont été ouverts sur 1.683.000 personnes.
- 348.000 personnes se sont vues refuser l'obtention de passeports.
- 14.000 personnes déchues de leur citoyenneté.
- Les universités ont été placées sous l'autorité du Conseil suprême de l'Education (YOK), dépendant du pouvoir politique.
- 15.509 personnes ont été chassées de leurs postes universitaires sous la loi N°1402.
- 18.000 fonctionnaires, 2.000 juges et procureurs, 4.000 officiers de police, 2.000 officiers de l'Armée et 5.000 enseignants ont été forcés de démissionner.
- Tous les partis politiques ont été dissous.
- Les activités des 23.667 associations ont été arrêtées.
- La presse a été soumise à la censure.
- 4.509 personnes ont été déportées par les commandants de la loi martiale.
- 113.607 livres ont été brûlés.
- 39 tonnes de livres, de revues et de journaux ont été détruites par des usines de papier de l'Etat.
- 937 films ont été interdits.
- 2.792 auteurs, traducteurs et journalistes ont été traduits devant les tribunaux.
- Le total des peines de prison prononcées contre les journalistes et écrivains s'élevait à 3.315 ans et 3 mois.

Pour une véritable démocratisation digne des normes européennes

Malgré le retour au régime parlementaire, les violations des droits de l'Homme se poursuivent, les intellectuels contestataires et les défenseurs des droits de l'Homme sont toujours soumis aux menaces de poursuites judiciaires, d'agressions physiques et de mort.

Même après les dernières élections, les nouveaux parlementaires kurdes et les maires des villes kurdes subissent sans cesse des procès politiques. Les provocations et tentatives se multiplient en vue de les empêcher d'exercer leurs fonctions.

C'est la raison pour laquelle, à l'occasion du 27e anniversaire du coup d'état de 1980, nous appelons l'actuel pouvoir civil avec ses trois composantes (Parlement, Président de la République et Gouvernement) à éradiquer tous les vestiges du régime militariste en adoptant les mesures suivantes:

1. Entière modification de la constitution actuelle imposée par les militaires; supression des articles 3, 4, 42 et 66 prônant la supériorité et le monopole de la race et de la langue turques.

2. Le système électoral imposant un seuil national de 10% au détriment des partis politiques représentant des opinions différentes, notamment pro kurde ou de gauche, doit être radicalement modifié.

3. Les responsables des coups d'état du passé doivent être traduits devant la justice pour crimes contre l'humanité.

4. L'ingérence des militaires dans la vie politique, sociale et culturelle du pays doit être définitivement interdite, les actuels commandants poursuivant leurs menaces et provocations doivent être éloignés de leurs postes.

5. Une amnistie générale doit être déclarée pour tous les prisonniers ou inculpés politiques.

6. Non seulement l'Article 301 mais tous les articles anti-démocratiques du Code pénal turc et de la Loi anti-terreur et d'autres lois répressives doivent être abolis, les poursuites judiciaires contre des journalistes, écrivains, artistes, enseignants doivent être arrêtées.

7. Les droits fondamentaux du peuple kurde et des minorités assyrienne, arménienne, grecque doivent être reconnus sans exception et sans restriction.

8. Le génocide commis au début du siècle contre les Arméniens et les Assyriens doit être solennellement reconnu par l'Etat turc.

9. Toute ingérence d'Ankara dans la vie politique et sociale des pays accueillant des ressortissants de Turquie doit être arrêtée.

Si le pouvoir AKP, comme il l'a fait dans le passé, se contente de certaines réformes cosmétiques sans effectuer les changements profonds énumérés ci-haut, on ne pourra jamais parler d'une véritable démocratisation en Turquie.

Bruxelles, le 11 septembre 2007

L'Association des Arméniens Démocrates de Belgique
Les Associations des Assyriens de Belgique
L'Institut Kurde de Bruxelles
La Fondation Info-Türk

Correspondance:
collectif1971@scarlet.be

Plus d'information:

http://www.info-turk.be
http://www.kurdishinstitute.be

27th Dark Anniversary of the 1980 Coup in Turkey

The New Parliament Should Eradicate  All Remnants of the Military Regime

Communiqué by four organizations issued from political emigration coming from Turkey:

September 12, 2007 is the 27th dark anniversary of the 1980 Military Coup. For 27 years, despite all protests and demands of democratic forces, parliamentary powers have always passed under silence this criminal putsch committed by the commanders of the Turkish Army. The constitution imposed by the Junta has remained in force. Successive governments have ruled the country always under the threats and blackmails of the military hierarchy.

The elections of July 22, 2007 created an exceptional chance to break this yoke and to eradicate all the remnants of the repressive regime founded by the military.

In fact, for the first time in the history of the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish Army and its militarist allies in the political world underwent a heavy defeat at the legislative elections in spite of the threats, pressures, obstructions and blackmails exerted for months.

Today, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), issued from Islamist movement, is the only power holder of the country after the election of its N°2, Abdullah Gül, to the presidency of the Republic. There are no more excuses to justify delays in fulfilling the promises for a true democratization in this country waiting at anti-chambre of the European Union.

Moreover, despite all obstructions set up unanimously by the non-Kurdish political parties represented at the preceding National Assembly, 20 Kurdish deputies entered this Parliament and set up a political group of the Party for a Democratic Society (DTP).

Having so a legitimate Kurdish interlocutor, the current power composed of a President of the Republic, a single-party government and a parliamentary majority has now a historical chance to find a peaceful and honorable solution for a friendly coexistence and solidarity with the Kurdish people and with all the ethnic and religious minorities of the country.

In spite of this progress favorable to democratization, the illegal and provocative declarations of the chiefs of the Army continue. This is an inadmissible interference in the political life.

This is why the new Parliament must immediately make null and void the constitution imposed in 1982 by the military junta and adopt a new constitution worthy of the universal and European democratic standards.

One of the first things to be made in the process of demilitarization is to subject the chief of staff to the authority of the Minister for national defense, to cut off the excessive authorities of the National Security Council (MGK) and the Higher Military Council (YAS).

It is also vital to decrease considerably the budget of military expenditures used to oppress the Kurdish people and to threaten the neighboring countries, in particular Cyprus, Iraq, Syria, Armenia and Iran.

Black balance-sheet of the 1980 Military Coup

Today, at the 27th anniversary of the September 12, 1980 Military Coup, it is necessary to recall once more the crimes committed by the putschists who still remain untouched and unpunished:

- The coup d'etat of September 12, 1980 was the second phase of a process of militarization in al fields of the country. Previously, the coup d'état of March 12, 1971 already had abolished or destroyed many democratic rights and institutions by the application of a repression without precedent.
 - The Constitution imposed in 1982 by the military junta abolished the last remnants of the freedoms recognized by the Constitution of 1961. The 1982 Constitution denies the basic rights of the Kurdish people and the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek minorities of Turkey. Articles 3, 42 and 66 preach the superiority and the monopoly of the Turkish race and language. Article 4 declares that Article 3 can never be modified, even the modification of this article can never be proposed.
 - The Army's domination on the country's political, economic and social life was guaranteed by the privileges recognized by this constitution to the National Security Council (MGK).
 - Within two years, more than 650,000 people were taken into custody and subjected to torture.
 - Thousands of people were left disabled.
 - 210,000 political cases were opened in military courts.
 -  A total of 98,404 people were tried because of their "thoughts."
 - 6,353 people were tried under the menace of capital punishment.
 - 21,764 people were sentenced to heavy prison terms.
 - Fifty people were executed at the end of political trials.
 - Many convicts lost their lives in prison due to maltreatment and hunger strikes to protest this maltreatment.
 - Files were opened on 1,683,000 people.
 - 348.000 persons were forbidden to travel abroad.
- 14.000 persons were deprived of Turkish nationality. 
- Universities were placed under the discipline of the Higher Education Council (YOK), depended on political power.
 - 15,509 people were ousted from their university posts under Law No. 1402.
 - 18,000 public servants, 2,000 judges and prosecutors, 4,000 police officers, 2,000 army officers and 5,000 teachers were forced to resign.
 - All political parties were closed down.
 - The activities of 23,667 associations were halted.
 - The press was censored.
 - 4,509 people were sent into exile by the martial law
 - 113,607 books were burned.
 - 39 tons of books, magazines and newspapers were destroyed by the State's paper mills.
 - 937 movies were banned.
 - 2,792 authors, translators and journalists were tried.
 - Journalists and writers were sentenced to a total imprisonment of 3,315 years and three months.
 

For a true democratization worthy of European standards

In spite of the return to the parliamentary system, the violations of the humans right continue, intellectuals and defenders of the human rights are always subjected to the threats of legal proceedings, physical aggressions and death.

Even after the last elections, the new Kurdish members of Parliament and the mayors of the Kurdish cities undergo political lawsuits one after other. Provocations and attempts multiply in order to prevent them from exerting their functions.

This is why, at the time of the 27th anniversary of the 1980 coup d'état, we call the current political power with its three components (Parliament, President of the Republic and Government) to eradicate all the remnants of the militarist regime by adopting the following measures:

1. Full modification of the current constitution imposed by the military; suppression of Articles 3, 4, 42 and 66 preaching the superiority and the monopoly of the Turkish race and language.
 2. The electoral system imposing a national threshold of 10% to the detriment of the political parties representing different opinions, in particular Kurdish and left-wing, must be radically modified.
 3. The persons responsible for the coups d'état in the past should be brought in front of the justice for having committed crimes against humanity.
 4. The interference of the military in the political, social and cultural life of the country must be definitively prohibited, the commanders continuing their threats and provocations must be ousted from their posts.
 5. A general amnesty must be declared for all political prisoners or detainees.
 6. Not only Article 301 but also all undemocratic articles of the Turkish Penal Code, the Anti-Terror Law and other laws must be abolished; the legal proceedings against journalists, writers, artists, and teachers must be stopped.
 7. The fundamental rights of the Kurdish people and the Assyrian, Armenian, Greek minorities must be recognized without exception and restriction. 8. The genocide committed at the beginning of the century against Armenians and Assyrians must be recognized by the Turkish State.
 9. Any interference of Ankara in the political and social life of the countries hosting Turkish nationals must be stopped.
 

If the AKP power, as it did in the past, remains satisfied with certain cosmetic reforms without carrying out above-mentioned major changes, it will be impossible to talk of a true democratization in Turkey.

Brussels, September 12, 2007

Association of Armenian Democrats in Belgium
Associations of Assyrians in Belgium
Kurdish Institute of Brussels
Info-Türk Foundation

Correspondence:
collectif1971@scarlet.be

More information:

http://www.info-turk.be/
http://www.kurdishinstitute.be

Commemorations in Turkey at the 27th anniversary of the 1980 Coup

The Science, Aesthetics, Education, and Art Research Foundation (BEKSAV) will set off on a "Justice Ship" in Karaköy on 11 September. There will be a symbolic one-hour trial of the 12 September coup. Guillermina Del Carmen, a musician who experienced the 11 September 1973 coup in Chile, will also be on the jury.

Other members of the jury are Ganime Aktas, whose son Ali Aktas was executed on 23 January 1983 in Adana, academic and human rights activist Haluk Gerger, singer Ferhat Tunc, prosecutor Sacit Kayasu, lawyer and human rights activist Eren Keskin, actor Halil Ergün, BEKSAV managing committee chair Haci Orman, lawyer Rasim Öz, president of the Yilmaz Güney Culture and Art Foundation Fatos Güney, and journalists Varlik Özmenek and Mukaddes Erdogdu Celik.

The 78'ers Initiative has also protested against the coup and read a press statement today (10 September) in front of a military leisure centre in Harbiye, near Taksim in central Istanbul.

In Diyarbakir, the day will be marked in front of the Diyarbakir prison, infamous for its maltreatment and torture of political prisoners during the coup. The Federation of 78'ers, the 78'er Foundation Initiative, the Tükenmez Publishers, the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD), the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), the Socialist Democracy Party (SDP) and the Marmara branch of the Pir Sultan Abdal Association will declare the formation of a "Committtee for Justice and Researching the Truth about Diyarbakir Prison".

The committee has announced several events to mark the anniversary of the coup:

    * 10 September, 6.30 pm: Opening of an exhibition of pictures entitled "Pictures of Terror and Resistance at Diyarbakir Prison" at Karsi Sanat gallery in the Elhamra Passage near Galatasaray in central Istanbul
    * 11 September, 7.30 pm: a torch march starting from the Taksim tram stop in central Istanbul
    * 12 September, 1pm: A display of demands for a democratic constitution in front of Taksim post office, a press statement, and sending the letters to parliament.
    * 12 September, 6.30 pm: Opening of an exhibition of photographs entitled "Looking at the Past" at the BASAD gallery in Bakirköy, Istanbul Street 38.
    * 12 September 12 o'clock: The announcement of the "Committtee for Justice and Researching the Truth about Diyarbakir Prison". There will be an opening of Diyarbakir prison pictures in the Kosuyolu Park in Diyarbakir and the committee will meet all day. There will also be meetings with familys of Diyarbakir prisoners.
    * 6 October 2007 Work on a democratic constititution under the slogan "Abolish the 12 September Constitution"  (BIA news centre, September 11, 2007)

Human Rights Advocates: Torture still exists in Turkey

Turkey's respected human rights associations, the Human Rights Association (IHD) and the Organization for Human Rights and Solidarity Oppressed People (Mazlum-Der) said yesterday in a joint press briefing that the responsibility of government against torture cannot be limited with proved torture complaints.

"We believe that government's `zero tolerance to torture` is an important move but torture should be prevented before it takes place. Unfortunately, indicators revealing there is no torture in Turkey are not present in the country," noted the human rights advocates.

IHD and Mazlum-Der said that governing Justice and Development Party has limited inspection power of deputies over prisons by making some amendments at the Law on Inmates.

Human rights advocates noted that the previous inspections had revealed some torture incidents in the past.

Human rights groups also mentioned some recent incidents including the death of a Nigerian refugee on June 27 after he was taken under custody at the Istanbul's Beyoglu police department.

IHD and Mazlum-Der noted that three deaths under the same conditions took place in three different cities of Turkey during June. (The New Anatolian, 7 September 2007)


Lawyer to be tried for alleged insult uttered during defence of journalists 

Yücel Sayman, the former president of the Istanbul Bar Association, is being tried for insulting nationalist lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz's lawyers. The insult is alleged to have taken place at a trial of journalists from the "Agos" newspaper for influencing the judiciary.

Sayman is to be tried in February 2008 for words he allegedly used at a court hearing on 16 May 2006, when "Agos" editor-in-chief Hrant Dink, his son and editor Arat Dink and the newspaper licence holder, Serkis Seropyan, were on trial (for further information on Hrant Dink's legal persecution, see IFEX alerts of 21 December, 19, 12 and 6 July, 5 June and 4 May 2006, and others).

Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code is being applied in Sayman's case and a sentence of up to two years imprisonment will be demanded.

The trial in 2006 was turbulent. When the defendants appeared in court the first time, their lawyers had coins and pens thrown at them and were threatened and insulted when leaving the hearing.

During the hearing, Kerincsiz, the representative of the Great Lawyers' Union, and other plaintiffs tried to limit defendant Hrant Dink's time to speak, arguing that he had talked too much. When defence lawyers said that there was pressure on the defendants and their lawyers, they were threatened.

During the argument, Kerincsiz called towards the journalists' defence lawyers, "We are watching you too!" Sayman is now on trial for what he said on that occasion.

Kerincsiz and his Lawyers' Union are well-known in Turkey, and by now internationally, for the trials they have instigated.

The latest was against journalist Ayse Önal of the "Star" newspaper, who was sentenced to paying compensation and a prison sentence converted to a fine for allegedly insulting Kerincsiz (see IFEX alert of 10 August 2007). In an article on 30 December 2005, the journalist had criticised Kerincsiz for filing a suit against Joost Lagendijk, the chair of the EU Joint Parliamentary Committee with Turkey.

Kerincsiz has also filed suits against writers such as Orhan Pamuk and Elif Safak.

Eight months after the "Agos" trial, editor-in-chief Hrant Dink was murdered (see alerts of 13 July, 2 April, 23 and 19 January 2007).  (BIANET/IFEX,  5 September 2007)

TIHV: Human Rights Can Not be Postponed

The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) released a report “Human Rights Agenda”. TIHV reminded that the government had promised “zero tolerance to torture”.

The report notes:

*Human rights are prioritised or neglected depending on the agenda of European Union relations. This pragmatist approach should be left. Human Rights Headquarters, City and borough Human Rights Boards have been set up by the government in attempt to take the field under control. It should be recognised that those institutions failed and the state should give up the initiative of managing human rights field.

*The relation between the state and human rights needs to be regulated by independent and impartial structures. National Human Rights Institution should be made possible. Appendix to UN Protocol against Torture should be accepted.

*The voice of Kurdish people should be given a hearing. The official policy of denial of Kurdish identity should be left behind, attempts should be made to have a debate in a peaceful environment.

*Politics should be saved from the shadow of anti-terror rhetoric and the armed forces.

*Conditions should be generated for people to return to the region.

*The existence of different ethnic groups, religious beliefs and conscientious preferences should be recognised.

*Rights of public sector workers to collective bargaining and strike should be accepted.

*A process of facing up with the past should be organised at the official level. The past should be investigated and the victims should be comforted even if it is late.

*There has been a turning back to the past after the progress made at 2004 EU Summit. Freedom of expression has been restricted through article 301.

*Conditions under detention is behind state of emergency OHAL conditions. Police powers has been raised to the level of prosecutor’s and police forces are allowed to shoot.

* Death in detention centres have been recorded despite official line of ‘zero tolerance to torture’. This backlash should be stopped. A new democratic reform process should be planned in collaboration with rights organisations.

*Isolation in prisons continue. Prison conditions should be reformed.
(antenna-tr.org, September 4, 2007)

Pression sur les médias / Pressure on the Media

11 Months Prison Sentence for a Cartoon

Cartoonist Muhammet Şengöz has been condemned to 11 months and 20 days prison sentence by Kocaeli Primary Court Num. 2 over a cartoon published in “Özgür Kocaeli” a local paper. The case was opened after a complaint made by Kocaeli mayor İbrahim Karaosmanoğlu.

The cartoonist was found guilty despite prosecutor’s acquittal demand. The sentence was commuted to a fine of 7000 lira.
The case will be sent to the appeal court. The cartoon portrayed the mayor from the back, he stands with his pants down, asking who is next?

Cartoonist Şengöz said at the court that his cartoon was a protest of the billboard ads where mayor asks “what is next?”. (antenna-tr.org, September 28, 2007)

Journalist Hozatli Receives 5 months under 301

Journalist Umur Hozatli who was charged with “insulting the police organisation and judicial system” under article 301 of TPC has been found guilty and received 5 months prison sentence. Hozatli was charged over an article he wrote in “Ülkede Özgür Gündem” daily. (antenna-tr.org, September 27, 2007)

IHD's solidarity with Musician Ferhat Tunc facing 15-year prison

The communiqué by the Istanbul Section of the Human Rights Association (IHD):

Musician, a member of Human Rights Association and a Freemuse  envoy Ferhat Tunç will appear in İzmir High Criminal Court Num.10 on 4 October 2007 and he faces “prison sentence for up to 15 years”.

An investigation has been launched against Ferhat Tunç over a speech he made at a concert organised by a political party on 22 July last year, in Alanya. It led to a case where Tunç was asked to be imprisoned for up to 15 years. In his speech leading to the charge, Ferhat Tunç was claimed to have said “if the soldiers who lost their lives are considered as the sons of this country, guerrillas are too. My heart bleeds both for the soldiers and the guerrillas who get killed. A democratic country needs pluralism.” And those words were interpreted as “separatist propaganda” over which Tunç was charged.

 Tunç told the officials in his first statement “Although I do not remember exactly what I said at the concert, I emphasised that I did not want our youngsters our kids to get killed in the confrontation we have in the country. It is true, both soldiers and guerrillas are the sons of this country. I believe that the deaths can be prevented by a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue”. Yet this statement did not satisfy the prosecutors and led to a case against Tunç.

We are going through a period of growing racist and chauvinistic tendencies. “Fears” and “worries” over certain issues are being voiced recently. Yet the real source of “worry” and “concern” is the development of racist and chauvinistic bigotry and the fact that this real “separatism” sells.

The most recent example of that is the song written by “Ozan Arif” and sang by “İsmail Türüt”. A video clip made for the song explicitly praised the murderers of Hrant Dink. Above named people did not accept the responsibility for the clip but the lyrics also targets our social peace and unity.

For how long will such racist-chauvinistic-nationalistic bigotry be applauded while defending a peaceful solution to Kurdish issue, expressing sorrow at the death of people, saying that democracy is a regime of tolerance to differences gets prosecuted?

Ferhat Tunç’s ideas which are prosecuted amounts to demanding peace and democracy, to saying “enough is enough” to blood and tears. If that is a “crime”, it should be known that the millions of pro-peace people in Turkey are committing this “crime” all the time. We share Ferhat Tunç’s feelings and ideas. And we feel embarrassed because such ideas are prosecuted.

We believe that Turkey should be saved from such embarrassment at a time of a debate on a “civil constitution”. We call on to all who side with peace and democracy to raise solidarity with Ferhat Tunç who will appear in İzmir High Criminal Court Num. 10 on 4 October at 10. 00 am. (ihdist@superonline.com, September 26, 2007)
 
Hakkari Journalist Kasim Ciftci Killed in Van

Kasim Ciftci, the owner of the "Hakkari Province Voice" newspaper, aged 46, was killed in Van on Saturday (22 September). His family took his body from the Van State Hospital on Sunday and buried him in Hakkari, the province town to the south-east of Van and in the very south-east of Turkey.

Fellow journalist Necip Capraz, the owner of the "Yüksekova News" newspaper, also published in the province of Hakkari, told bianet: "We can see that dark clouds have been gathering over this province recently." Capraz had known Ciftci for 20 years.

Asked whether the murder was related to the freedom of expression or the press, Capraz said he had not come across any evidence yet: "There are several possible reasons for his death in the conditions that this province imposes."

Capraz pointed out that there had been another unsolved murder in the province recently; unemployed Muhsin Ertan had been found dead at the roadside in the Daglica area of Yüksekova, Hakkari.

The murder has been condemned by the Van Lake Journalists' Society and Abdurrahman Keskin, former mayor of Hakkari and the owner of the "Hakkari People's Voice" newspaper.

The journalist had been found dead near the ruins of old Van City at around 12:30 pm on 22 September. According to the Yüksekova News, eye witnesses saw two people arguing near the ruins. This argument turned into a fight, in which the person hit Ciftci's head with a stone.

When the journalist tried to run away, the other man shot at him. When the journalist had managed to get further away, he shot at him again and then left the area on foot.

The ambulance called to the site could only pronounce Ciftci dead, killed by two bullets. An autopsy has been performed, and an investigation begun by the Van Public Prosecution.

In a written statement, the president of the Van Lake Journalists' Society, M. Emin Toker, expressed his sadness over the death, particularly in the "holy month of Ramazan" and his belief that security forces would solve the murder as soon as possible.  (BIA news centre, Erol Önderoglu, September 26, 2007)

One 301 Acquittal Not Enough!

Gündem journalist Sinan Kara, who has been to prison three times, has been acquitted in a trial concerning an article he wrote in which he joined EU Commission Turkey representative Hans Jörg Kretschmer's criticism of the army. The article was entitled "Barracks Party".

Trial No.1: Acquittal

The Beyoglu Penal Court (Istanbul)has decreed that there were "no elements of a crime" under Article 301 and acquitted him.

Kara had argued during his defense, "My aim was not to degrade the armed forces. The EU was criticising the Turkish Armed Forces' involvement in politics and I wrote this article because I agreed with that viewpoint."

Trial No 2: Article 301/2

However, the journalist's time in court is by no means over yet. He is also on trial under Article 301/2 for an article entitled "Justice has become Militarism's Jester", published in the "Social Democracy" (Toplumsal Demokrasi) newspaper on 20 November 2006.

The article contained the following sentences: "What is saddening is that justice has become militarism's jester, that the concepts of justice and law mean injustice in this country. Those who are too afraid of taking the general to justice who has engraved himself into our memory as the father of the "good kids", those "justice dispensers" who cannot even come close to the perpetrators of Susurluk, Hakkari, Semdinli, Yüksekova and Diyarbakir, have again started to creep over us like dark clouds."

Kara was referring to Chief of Staff Yasar Büyükanit's spontaneous 'character reference' for the junior officers accused of bombing a book shop in Semdinli. He had called them 'good kids'. An attempt by the investigating prosecutor Ferhad Sarikaya to investigate Büyükanit and other army members ended in his dismissal from his post and an end to his career as a lawyer.

The case was opened on 9 January, and Kara will appear in the Istanbul 10th Heavy Penal Court again on 26 October.

Trial No. 3: Article 301

Kara is also on trial for an article entitled "Full-time killers", in which he criticised the state and the army in relation to a bombing in Diyarbakir in which 10 people died, eight of them children. Again, Article 301 has been cited, and the case will start on 26 October.

Trial No. 4: Article 216/1

Finally, Kara will face the Istanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court on 30 January 2008 for an article entitled "Isolation Knows No Limits", writing about isolation cells in prisons.

Published in the "Ülkede Özgür Gündem" newspaper on 14 November 2006, the article says, "It is time you knew that the state is doing whatever it can to ruin this people...It has becmoe very clear in this event what kind of isolation the Kurdish people are facing."

It further says, "First their houses were burnt down, that was not enough. Then they were killed, that was not enough. Then the trees were burnt down, that was not enough. Then their children were killed, that was also not enough, now they are trying to leave them to hunger and loneliness."

Citing Article 216/1, the prosecution is accusing Kara of "inciting hatred and hostility by showing regional difference".

Newspaper also on trial

In addition, the "Ülkede Özgür Gündem" newspaper's responsible editor Özlem Aktan and writer Mustafa Temizkan are on trial for "praising a criminal" after an article referred to imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan as "the leader of the Kurdish People".

TÜSIAD calls for freedom of expression

Meanwhile, the Turkish businessworld has called for a democratisation of the constitution and penal code. Arzuhan Dogan, the president of the Turkish Association of Industrialists and Business People (TÜSIAD) called for a change in Article 301: "Instead of running after new definitions of laicism, it would be better to let Turkey have a regime which promises a modern democracy and full freedom of expression." (BIA news centre, Erol Önderoglu, September 25, 2007)

Article 301: Journalist Bogatekin in Court

"The state made mistakes. When and where? Yesterday, in the East and South-East. then in Istanbul. In Maras and Sivas. Today in Trabzon, Istanbul, Mersin and in the South-East."

These words have taken journalist Haci Bogatekin to court.

Bogatekin owns the local Gerger Firat newspaper in Adiyaman, south-eastern Turkey. Because he criticised state policies in an article entitled "Turkey Has Made Mistakes", published in his newspaper on 10 March 2007, he is on trial for "degrading Turkishness, the Republic, state institutions or its organs" - Article 301 once again.

Today (26 September), the Gerger penal court decided to have the next hearing on 6 November, in order to allow the journalist time to present evidence and prepare his defense. 

Bogatekin has requested legal support from the Press Council and has said that he will ask the Adiyaman Bar Association for help.

At the court hearing today, Bogatekin's complaint that the indictment had been prepared "without doing any research" was rejected by the court.

In his article, Bogatekin holds the state responsible for "the deaths of millions of Armenians and Syriac Christians in the East and South-East, after that the deaths of the Alevi in Dersim, then the Greek Orthodox in Istanbul with the September movement, and more recently the deaths of hundreds of people in Maras, Malatya, Corum and Sivas".

He also criticised the employment policies of the state, saying "Do those who murder in the name of the state, who siphon the money out of the banks make contacts with MIT [the Turkish secret service]?

Those exacting money have become like an army which dares to direct the state. In the East, they have begun to decide on the politics. Commanding themselves, they have started to do any job that is dirty and ominous, to exploit the people..."

He ends the article by saying, "Keeping this country clean is the duty of us all. If we do not accept this duty, the consequences will be dreadful. We will not have a future. (BIA news centre, Erol Önderoglu, September 26, 2007)

"Crimes of Thought": 229 Years Imprisonment in Six Months

Every six months, the Human Rights Association (IHD) publishes a report on rights violations. According to the report pertaining to the first six months of 2007, 451 people are involved in 94 trials for using their right to freedom of expression. In addition, there have been 88 investigations of 361 people.

103 trials involving 368 people have resulted in the sentencing of 193 people to a total of 229 years, 3 months and 15 days imprisonment and 7,981 YTL (around 4,600 Euros) in fines. The IHD noted that these statistics " prove that, compared to recent years, there has been no improvement in the area of freedom of expression".

According to the association, 17 of the trials opened in this period have been under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code ("degrading Turkishness, the Republic, the State or its institutions"), 22 trials under Article 215 ("praising crime and criminals"), four trials under Article 314, two trials under Article 216 (inciting the people to hatred and hostility or degrading"), and two trials under Article 288 ("attempting to influence the judiciary"). There have been 20 trials under Article 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Law ("spreading propaganda of a terrorist organisation"), two trials under the Law of Crimes Committed against Atatürk (the founder of the Turkish Republic), and one under Article 312 of the old Turkish Penal Code.

The first six months of 2007 have also witnessed the conclusion of 25 trials under Article 301, 23 trials under Article 215, and 4 trials under Article 216.

Nationalists encouraged by legal persecution of freedom of expression

The Human Rights Association has protested against the overturning of the acquittal of academics Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Kaboglu and Prof. Dr. Baskin Oran, who had been on trial for a report on minority and culture rights prepared for the Prime Ministerial Office. The report had suggested replacing the term "Turk" for citizens of the Turkish Republic with the term "citizen of Turkey", which would include all ethnic and religious groups in Turkey.

According to the association, the academics' case is similar to the legal persecution of writers such as Perihan Magden, Elif Safak and Hrant Dink. The IHD warned that "Regarding the freedom of expression as a crime does not only result in trials, but can also result in protests provoked by nationalist segments of the population and lynching attempts."Reyhan Yalcindag, the president of the IHD, said, "Everyone knows how there was a build-up to Hrant Dink's murder, how, when he was in court for 'degrading Turkishness', his expressions of peace and brotherhood were twisted into something else.

The IHD also called attention to the fact that the "Özgür Gündem" newspaper has been closed four times this year. (BIA news centre, Erol ÖNDEROĞLU, September 24, 2007)

Encore une fois, un tribunal ordonne le blocage de YouTube

Reporters sans frontières dénonce la décision du tribunal d'ordonner aux fournisseurs d'accès Internet de bloquer l'accès au site de partage de vidéos YouTube le 18 septembre 2007.

"Bloquer l'intégralité du site à cause de quelques vidéos est une mesure disproportionnée. Nous demandons aux autorités de revenir sur cette décision ", a déclaré l'organisation.

La censure de YouTube fait suite à la mise en ligne de vidéos jugées insultantes pour le fondateur de la République turque, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, le président Abdullah Gül, le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan et l'armée. C'est un habitant de la ville de Sivas qui s'est plaint de ce contenu.

Selon l'agence de presse nationale, Anatolia, le Conseil turc des Télécommunications s'est vu confier la tâche, par la cour, d'interdire progressivement l'accès au site de partage de vidéos.

Les responsables de YouTube ont par ailleurs indiqué, dans un communiqué repris par Anatolia, qu'ils étaient prêts à coopérer avec les autorités afin de résoudre le problème.

En mars, YouTube avait déjà fait l'objet d'un blocage sur décision judiciaire (http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=21254). L'accès avait été rétabli après que les vidéos jugées insultantes pour Mustafa Kemal Atatürk avaient été retirées du site. (RSF, 20 septembre 2007)

Un extrait pertinent choisi par Mehmet Köksal dans les archives Info-Türk

Le jour du 27e anniversaire du coup d'Etat de 12 septembre 1980 en Turquie, la fondation Info-Türk a mis en ligne l'ensemble de ses bulletins parus depuis 1980 à nos jours. Une mine d'informations multilingues à caractère historique pour ceux qui veulent replonger dans l'évolution socio-politique de la Turquie vu à travers l'analyse des plus célèbres représentants de la gauche radicale d'opposition turque en Belgique : Inci Tugsavul et Dogan Özgüden.

En potassant ces précieuses archives, je tombe sur "un reportage publié par le journal Milliyet entre le 7 et 10 décembre 1980 avec l'autorisation de la junte militaire" à propos de "la terreur d'Etat à la prison de Mamak" dont voici un extrait pertinent :

Comble de l'ironie, le reportage est signé par le reporter Emin Cölasan, célèbre éditorialiste devenu entre-temps l'un des plus chauds partisans du complexe militaro-kémaliste turc et récemment licencié par le quotidien Hürriyet. Une belle perle immortalisée en ligne grâce à l'archivage des gestionnaires de l'agence Info-Türk.

J'ai demandé à Dogan Özgüden, co-fondateur d'Info-Türk, s'il fallait s'attendre encore à d'autres publications ?

"Nous venons seulement de publier nos bulletins de 1980 à ce jour mais il reste encore la mise en ligne des années 1973 à 1980 en plus des livres et brochures que nous allons progressivement mettre en ligne. Les premiers bulletins d'Info-Türk datent de 1973-74 sous un format d'impression sur stencil. Il n'était évidemment pas encore question d'informatique ou d'internet à l'époque. Puis, dès 1976, nos bulletins sont devenus mensuels et aussi multilingues. En 1998, nous avons sorti une première version en ligne sur internet tout en poursuivant l'expérience de la version papier pour finalement totalement se concentrer sur l'information en ligne. Sur le plan linguistique, c'était assez variable puisque nos premiers bulletins étaient trilingues (FR-TR-EN) puis nous avons ajoutés des versions flamande, allemande et espagnole pour finalement se contenter des bulletins bilingues (français et anglais). Il n'y a effectivement plus de version en langue turque car il existe aujourd'hui une presse d'opposition en Turquie, la presse turque d'opposition est également disponible sur papier et sur internet dans les pays européens... ce qui n'était évidemment pas le cas sous la dictature", m'a expliqué le journaliste Dogan Özgüden. (http://allochtone.blogspot.com/2007/09/info-trk-publie-ses-archives-en-ligne.html)

Latest Trials of Journalists and Writers in Turkey

- Public Prosecutor in Diyarbakir launched a court case against Hikmet Erden, correspondent with the Dicle News Agency, in connection with the news appeared on the paper before 22 July elections. Erden wrote news alleging that soldiers were forcing villagers not to vote DTP. The indictment wants Erden to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment between 1 year and 4 years according to Article 267 of Law on Press for "slandering by means of mass media". The case would commence at Diyarbakir Penal Court of First Instance No 2. (ANF-TIHV, September 5, 2007)

- A court case was launched against Yasin Yetisgen, owner and editor-in-chief of the weekly journal "Çoban Atesi" published in Gaziantep, according to the Article 302 TPC for "damaging the unity and indivisibly of the nation and country". The case reportedly launched for saying "Antep is one of the biggest cities of Northern Kurdistan with its 2 millions Kurdish residents" in the article published on 2 September. The issue of the journal was confiscated and Yetisgen was arrested. The case would commence at Adana Heavy Penal Court. (BIA-TIHV, September 4, 2007)

- On 31 August, Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 continued to hear the case against Çagri Karadag, owner of the leftist journal "Tek Yol Devrim! Hareket", and editor-inchief of the journal Kemal Bozkurt launched in connection with the articles "Kürtler Kardesimdir, E Tipindeki Evlatlarin", "1 Eylül Dünya Baris Günü", "Mücadele Zamani: YÖK'e Hayir!" for violating Anti-terror Law. The court decided that the articles should have been regarded within the freedom of expression and acquitted the defendants. The indictment wanted the defendants to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment between 1 year and 5 years. (Gündem-TIHV, September 1, 2007)

- On 31 August, Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 concluded to hear the retrial of Gülçiçek Günel launched in connection with the book "Dilimiz Varligimiz Dilimiz Kültürümüzdür (Our Language is Our Existence, Our Language is Our Culture)" published by Aram Publishing. The case had been launched according to the Article 312/2 of the former TPC for "inciting people hatred and enmity" and Günel had been sentenced to 20 months' imprisonemnt during first trial. The court acquitted the defendant on the grounds that elements of crime were not materialised. (Gündem-TIHV, September 1, 2007)

Erdogan Must Be Joking by saying "Our intellectuals keep too quiet"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the opening speech at the 38th International Congress of Asian and North African Studies (ICANAS) in Ankara, in which he claimed that " unfortunately the voices of scientists, intellectuals and artists do not rise loudly enough against injustice in the age we live in."

In reaction, independent parliamentary candidate Prof. Dr. Baskin Oran and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Insel have published a statement on Baskin Oran's website. They first asked, "Is this a joke or derision?" and then made a list of former Minister of Justice Cemil Cicek's past treatment of intellectuals:

" In September 2004 he was the one who by saying, 'We support making adultery a crime' , turned attention towards this absurdity and away from Article 301.

When Minister of Justice, he was the one who allowed Hrant Dink to be tried under Article 301 (then 159),
who called on the Minority Rights and Cultural Rights Report "intellectual nonsense" and intellectual mischief".

In September 2005, when the Armenian conference could finally take place, it was him who hit his fist on the parliamentary podium and said, 'They stabbed us in the back'.

It was he who in September 2006 said that 'the person really responsible for 301 is Orhan Pamuk', and he who said in February 2007 that "I have seen how hypocritical and spineless intellectuals are in the 301 discussion'.

It was Cemil Cicek who said in September 2006, 'We cannot abolish 301. Wait, and the judiciary will make fine adjustments'. He is still in cabinet, this time as the State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister responsible for the coordination of human rights institutions and affairs" and also as government speaker!

If we leave Cemil Cicek's real identity to the side for a moment, what about Prime Minister Erdogan preventing the Human Rights Advisory Committee, which is meant to meet at least three times a year, from meeting since October 2004? As Prime Minister then and now, he has to explain why.

We also expect an explanation from President Abdullah Gül, because at the time, he was the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of human rights.

If he can stay silent on human rights violations, if he can offer Cemil Cicek, who supports these violations, first the post of Minister of Justice and now that of coordinator of human rights affairs, then we call on Prime Minister Erdogan to be serious, to first think and then talk." (BIA news centre, September 13, 2007)

A Park Too Much for human rights activist

The Municipality of Diyarbakir, the Kurdish-majority Province in the South-east of Turkey, has met with hurdles in its plans to name a park after deceased human rights activist and publisher Ayse Nur Zarakolu.

The Regional Administrative Court has decreed that the Park cannot be named after a person who "supported separatist ideas and spread terrorist propaganda both in her own books and in the books she published".

The Court had become involved after the Diyarbakir Governor's Office had objected to the naming. The Diyarbakir Municipality Council will assemble in order to decide on their reaction.

The husband of Ayse Nur Zarakolu, Ragip Zarakolu,  a journalist at the " Özgür Gündem" (Free Agenda) and a publisher, has said: "Ayse Nur Zarakolu, like Hrant Dink, was a person who tried to build bridges between our peoples on the basis of mutual respect , and she is one of the people who paid for this with her life."

In an article yesterday (22 August), Zarakolu wrote that his wife was sentenced to imprisonment under Article 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Law, but that this article has now been dropped in the process of "pretend democratisation".

Thus, argues Zarakolu, the sentence has lost its validity, as have the decreeing courts, the State Security Courts, which have been abolished. "Whether or not Ayse Nur Zarakolu's name is on the gate of the Park or not, she will always live on and symbolise the brotherhood between peoples."

And 4 times Turkish Goverment accepted to pay compensations to Zarakolu family, because of the decisions of European Human Rights Court, which canceled the unjust convictions of Turkish Courts about her, which violated freedom of expression.

A park on the Dicle Kent Boulevard had been named the "Ayse Nur Zarakolu Free Women's Park Forest". Following the court decree, the Municipality has renamed the park "Park Forest".

In 2003 a Center of Education and Health for the Women had been named with her name, “Ayse Nur Zarakolu” in Dogu Beyazid Town (near to the Mount Ararat), which was built with the donations of Italian municipalities.

And there is a Human Rights Library with her name in Istanbul.

Human Rights Association gives ANZ Freedom of Expression Awards every year.

During last years Hrant Dink, Baskin Oran, Yilmaz Guney, Vedat Turkali etc. had ANZ Awards.

And She had also Human Rights Watch’s, American PEN’s, Turkish Publisher Association’s, Catania and Padova City’s (Italy),  French /Armenian Community’s Awards for Freedom of Expression and Righteousness; and Greek/Turkish Peace Awards. (BIA news centre, Erol Onderoglu,  September 12, 2007)


Gündem suspended for 30 days for publishing two articles by Kurdish leader

The Istanbul 12th Penal Court has decreed that "Gündem" newspaper be suspended for 30 days as punishment for publishing two articles by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Murat Karayilan. The newspaper was charged with spreading PKK propaganda, under the Anti-Terrorism Law.

Editor-in-chief Yüksel Genc pointed out that the newspaper was being punished under a law that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent to the Constitutional Court. He added, "It is difficult to understand that our publication is being stopped for the fourth time by an Article which tramples on freedom of the press. The continuing penalties exacted under this law show again that Turkey is a problematic country as far as freedom of the press and expression are concerned."

In one article, published on 2 September 2007 and entitled "Let us become populist, let us win", Karayilan wrote: "We are a movement which is only based on its own strength." He declared that the PKK "got its power from society and relies on the people".

On the next day, in a second article entitled "Self-criticism not in words but in practice", Karayilan pointed out mistakes made by the "Free Citizen Movement" and called for self-criticism.

In response to the closure ruling, Siirt MP Osman Özcelik of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) said, "If people are killed when it is said that there is zero tolerance of torture, if newspapers are closed when the freedom of press is talked about, then this is thought-provoking. It is clear that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is only talking about the EU norms. We will take this to Parliament."

DTP MP Hasip Kaplan from Sirnak added that the government's new programme purports to seek an intensification of the EU accession process and full guarantees for freedom of expression: "This ruling shows that there is no tolerance of opposition voices, and basic rights and freedoms are limited under the Anti-Terrorism Law."

DTP MP Akin Birdal from Diyarbakir said that he would take the issue to the Human Rights Commission in Parliament: "In Ankara there are oppressive policies to shut the people up. We support 'Gündem' to the last."

Aysel Tugluk of the DTP added, "Such actions damage democracy. We will not allow the people's voice to be silenced."

Gündem newspaper has been closed three times before in 2007: on 6 March for 30 days, on 9 April for 15 days, on 12 July for 15 days. (BIANET/IFEX, September 11, 2007)

Journalist, two editors, fined for publishing interview with Kurdish militant

The Istanbul 10th Penal Court has sentenced "Hürriyet" newspaper journalist Sebati Karakurt to an advance payment of 455 YTL (approx. US$350). Karakurt is being tried for an interview he conducted with Kurdish Kongra-Gel militants on Kandil Mountain in Northern Iraq. He faces a possible prison sentence.

Hasan Kilic and Necdet Tatlican, editors at the newspaper, have been ordered by the court to pay fines amounting to 60,000 YTL (approx. US$47,000), for "publishing statements of a terrorist organisation" and "spreading the propaganda of a terrorist organisation" by including the interview in the newspaper. Should they not pay their fines, their trials will continue on 13 November 2007.

Karakurt had interviewed militant leader Murat Karayilan and had written about changes in the lives of militants living on the mountain.

The interview was published in "Hürriyet" newspaper on 10 October 2004, under the title: "In Kandil, feminism has gone beyond Kurdish nationalism". At first, Karakurt and Kilic were accused of publishing terrorist statements. Subsequently, Kilic and Tatlican faced the additional charge of spreading terrorist propaganda.

In a separate case, "Milliyet" journalist Namik Durukan was acquitted on 10 May 2007 of any crime related to an article he wrote on former Kurdish leader Osman Öcalan and the fact that his life had changed since he had left the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The article was published on 29 April 2005 under the title "Osman rocks the cradle" and "The PKK should retreat". (BIANET/IFEX, September 11, 2007)

International PEN, ARTICLE 19 and IPA call for abolition of Article 301

The following is a joint International PEN, ARTICLE 19 and IPA press release:

International PEN, ARTICLE 19 and the International Publishers Association call for the abolition of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code

Today International PEN, ARTICLE 19 and the International Publishers Association issued an open letter to the newly-elected President of Turkey Adbulah Gül. The letter calls for the abolition of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.

In the letter the three organisations expressed their deep concern about the impact of Article 301 on the right to freedom of expression in Turkey and its inconsistency with international law.

Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code prohibits public denigration of "Turkishness", a term that is extremely vague and can be easily abused. It has been widely used to repress freedom of expression and open debate in the country. In particularly, the letter draws President Gül's attention to the fact that, between April and July 2007, there were 18 trials against 24 people under Article 301.

While welcoming progressive changes to Turkish legislation since mid-1990s, the letter also points to the fact that hopes that the Turkish government might consider the abolition of Article 301 faded away after the assassination of (editor of the Armenian-Turkish weekly Agos) Hrant Dink in January 2007. Mr. Dink had himself been convicted under Article 301 and was handed down a six-month suspended sentence in October 2005. Since his killing, Article 301 trials continue.

The letter also makes reference to the joint declaration of 41 international and national NGOs urging the abolition of Article 301 from the Turkish Penal Code - as well as other provisions violating freedom of expression - issued on 14 February 2007; it further cites the resolution on the same issue adopted by ARTICLE 19, International PEN and the International Publishers Association on 24 November 2006.

The letter urges President Gül to do all in his power to ensure Turkey's compliance with its obligations under international law, particularly through the abolition of Article 301. (ARTICLE 19/IFEX, September 11, 2007)

Journalist Stand Trial over Elections Report

Reporter of Dicle News Agency Hikmet Erden stands trial over reporting the claims that the military police intimidated locals in Diyarbakır’s Karacadağ district not to vote DTP candidate. Diyarbakır prosecution office charges the reporter with “slander” as the military police department complained.
Erden will appear in Diyarbakır Primary Court num 2 on 2 February 2008. (antenna-tr.org, September 9, 2007)

Pornographic Sculpture Case in Kemer

Antalya's tourist quarter Kemer is talking about a sculpture which was opened by the mayor and the artist Zafer Sarı only last week.

Former mayor of Kemer CHP's Mustafa Gül applied to the local administrator to remove the sculpture since he said it was too pornographic and would damage the morals of young girls. Gül said: "Citizens call me complaining and finally a group of 40 people said they would bring it down. We respect artwork but such a sculpture can not be place in the middle of Kemer. It is not only tourists who live in Kemer there are young girls and families too. We can not let their morals to be damaged."

AKP Kemer Borough Chairman Zafer Yaman said "I am embarrassed when I look at that sculpture." Yaman said that the sculpture was an attack on women’s rights.

Artists Sarı said he was bewildered with the reactions: "My work is on love. I am sorry that pure emotions are tainted like this."

This is not the first fight on sculpture in Turkey. The most famous one was between Ankara mayor Melih Gökçek and the artist Mehmet Aksoy in 1994. Gökçek had said after he was elected the sculpture “Land of Fairies” in Altınpark was about orgasm and said he would spit on that. Gökçek got the sculpture removed. Court ordered him to pay the artist Aksoy 1 billion 342 million old lira.  (antenna-tr.org, September 9, 2007)

Journalist Alkan Receives Death Threats

Journalist Türker Alkan of the "Radikal" newspaper used to receive death threats before the 28 February 1997, when the National Security Council forced the then Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan to resign (The 28 February is often described as a "postmodern coup").

The death threats stopped with the "coup". Now, however, Alkan is being threatened again.

In an article, Alkan said, "After 22 July [the general elections], there have been new angry and threatening messages. In a recent message the author claimed to be a police officer and said that I was a "traitor" and that he would "shot at my head twice".

He added, "Who knows, is he really a policeman? But even if he is not, what does the fact that someone with such a mentality has identified themselves with the police role tell us?"

Alkan referred to French sociologist Alexis de Tocqueville's saying, "The greatest threat to democracy is the one that comes from social pressure", saying, "it is impossible not to worry whether we are facing such a danger now."

The article continued:

"...But seeing democracy only as a constitutional and institutional order creates problems in the long run. Democracy is also a phenomenon related to socially dominant values, behavioural moulds and culture. Saying that, one should not divide people into "religious, laicist, right-wing, left-wing" or judge people as being part of a democratic or an authoritarian camp. In the past we have seen that the left-wing and laicist, as well as the religious and authoritarian, can be authoritarian to the same degree. Now it is the AKP's turn to show its practices. It seems to me that, given the opportunity..."

BIA: Do not leave crimes towards journalists unpunished

The BIA media observation desk had reported 17 incidents of attacks and 6 cases of threats towards journalists in its second quarterly Media Observation Report published on 6 July.

BIA had demanded that in order to prevent a culture of impunity, those responsible for these crimes needed to be punished as a matter of urgency. (BIA news centre, Erol Önderoglu, September 6, 2007)

Singer Tunc Still Accused of Spreading Terorrist Propaganda

Singer Ferhat Tunc had called for peace, reminding people that PKK and MKP members who die are also "children of this country". His comments have landed him in court.

At a concert in Alanya (district of Antalya, southern Turkey) on 22 July last year, singer Ferhat Tunc had said, "Just as every soldier who dies in this country is counted as a child of this country, so every guerrilla who is killed is a child of this country. My heart burns for every dead soldier, my heart bleeds for every dead guerrilla."

Tunc is being tried under Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terrorism Law for this comment, and is first due in court on 4 October at the Izmir 10th Heavy Penal Court.

In addition, the Malatya Public Prosecution has begun an investigation into Tunc for "spreading propaganda for the Maoist Communist Party (MKP)". AT a concert on 12 August 2006, he had dedicated a song to "the 17". The fact that members of the audience chanted "Dersim [the old name for Tunceli] is proud of you" has been interpreted as proof for his crime.

Tunc's statement

Giving a statement at the Istanbul Public Prosecution, Tunc said that his speech at the first concert was expressing his opinion that the people of Turkey should coexist peacefully. As for the "17", he said that he had known most of the MKP members who had been killed in the Mercan Valley (in Tunceli province) in 2004 since their childhood, and that he was not able to ignore the event. When he had expressed his feelings about the gravity of the event in his song, he had not aimed at spreading propaganda.

Tunc had said at the second concert, "We have to overcome and destroy the fears that are imposed on us. There are conflicts in our country, there are deaths. In order to oppose them, we first have to overcome our fears. We want to sing our peace songs on our own land, without fear, without worry. For that to happen, the conflict has to end and we have to work towards that with all our efforts. Let us all say no to war." Then he sang his song entitled "No to war".

Tunc is also being tried for being part of a human rights delegation which freed private Coskun Kirandi after he had been kidnapped by the PKK. He has also received death threats by a group calling itself the "Turkish Revenge Brigade" (TIT). (BIA news centre, September 5, 2007)

New Tool against Separatism: Article 302 of the  Turkish Penal Code

The case against the owner and the editor of “Çoban Ateşi” newspaper Yasin Yetişgen who is on remand over publishing an article which carried the phrase “North Kurdistan” will be held by Adana High Criminal Court. Yetişgen is on remand in Gaziantep H Type prison. He is charged with “destroying the unity of the state and the integrity of the country” under TPC article 302. The date of hearing is yet unknown.

The paper was confiscated over an article published on August 2007 which carried "Antep is the biggest metropolis of North Kurdistan with its almost 2 million population... Antep with its rich culture should be viewed as the Istanbul of North Kurdistan”. Yetişgen was arrested “as a caution” and an order of arrest was issued fro writer Hurşit Kaşıkkırmaz who lives abroad.

Article 8 of Anti Terror Law which was applied against separatism was abolished on 15 July 2003. Now the article 302 is used to prevent the usage of the term “north Kurdistan”. (antenna-tr.org, September 5, 2007)

Anti-Terror Law Targets Journalists

Solidarity Platform for Journalists in Prison (SPJP) demanded the release of Hasan Coşar of Atılım newspaper an other journalists in prison. The spokesperson Necati Abay demanded said that the authorities turned a blind eye to the situation of the journalists in prison. Abay said "Press Council ignores our list. Ministry of Justice should clarify whether there are journalists in prison or not?".

Along with journalists Çoşar, 5 journalists from Atılım paper, 1 from Free Radio, 5 from “Özgür Halk” and “Genç Bakış” magazines, 2 from Odak magazine, 1 from “Ekmek ve Adalet” magazine, 1 from “İşçi Köylü” newspaper, 3 from Dicle news agency, 2 from “Gündem” daily, 1 from “Alınteri” paper, 1 journalist from “Güney” magazine, and 1 journalist from “Çoban Ateşi” paper are in prison.

Editor of “Atılım” Ahmet Yaman' said: "Hasan Coşar is a human rights defender. Yet he was arrested with the charge of membership to a illegal organisation, which was a conspiracy on the part of the ATL”.  (antenna-tr.org, September 1, 2007)


Kurdish Question / Question kurde

12 morts dans une embuscade attribuée au PKK par les autorités

Douze personnes ont été tuées et deux autres blessées samedi dans le sud-est de la Turquie dans une attaque attribuée par les autorités au PKK. L'attaque a eu lieu vers 14H00 GMT près de la petite ville de Beytüssebab, dans la province de Sirnak, frontalière avec l'Irak, a annoncé dimanche le gouverneur local Selahattin Apari.

"Des terroristes du PKK ont mitraillé un minibus transportant pour la plupart des civils. Ils ont massacré 13 personnes", a dit le responsable. Mais la mort de la 13e personne a été démentie plus tard.

Parmi les morts figure un mouhtar, chef de village, et ses quatre fils, tous des "gardiens de village". Les "gardiens de village" sont une milice kurde recrutée et armée par Ankara pour assurer la protection des villages du sud-est anatolien contre les guérillas du PKK.

Une opération de l'armée est en cours pour capturer les responsables de l'attaque.

De retour d'une visite aux Etats-Unis, le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a dénoncé devant la presse une "attaque lâche qui ne restera pas impunie". Il a affirmé que le PKK avait commencé à s'en prendre aux civils, ce qui démontre, selon lui, que l'organisation est en "détresse" en raison des opérations de l'armée. "Notre détermination à lutter contre les terroristes se maintiendra", a-t-il ajouté.

Dimanche, deux rebelles qui tentaient de s'infiltrer depuis l'Irak ont été tués par des gendarmes près de la bourgade de Cukurca, tout près de la frontière, a indiqué le gouvernorat local.  (AFP, 30 sept 2007)

Un inculpé du DHKP-C exécuté par des militaires à Dersim
 
Le 26 septembre 2007, des gendarmes membres des forces spéciales (Özel Tim) de la caserne de Boytas (Amutka en kurde) ont ouvert le feu sur deux apiculteurs qui récoltaient du bois à Hozat, une localité de la province de Tunceli (Dersim en kurde). Gravement blessés, les victimes, Bülent Karatas et Ali Riza Ciçek, ont été séquestrées dans la caserne.

Les militaires ont ensuite contacté leurs familles pour qu’elles viennent rechercher « leurs défunts ». Karatas et Ciçek ont été emmenés à bord d’un hélicoptère de l’armée vers l’hôpital de l’université de l’Euphrate à Elazig. Ils étaient alors tous les deux vivants. Cependant, le lendemain vers 3h du matin, Bülent Karatas a succombé à ses blessures. Les médecins ont extrait trois balles de son corps et découvert plusieurs blessures « sans doute provoquées par des coups de crosse ». Ali Riza Çiçek est en ce moment en soins intensifs.

D’après le gouverneur de Tunceli, Mustafa Yaman, les deux apiculteurs étaient des « terroristes » qui auraient fui suite aux « sommations des militaires ». « Terroristes » est aussi le qualificatif utilisé par l’état-major de l’armée dans son site web à l’égard des deux victimes. Pourtant Bülent Karatas et Ali Riza Ciçek n’étaient pas armés. Ils étaient en possession de cadres de ruches, de tronçonneuses et accompagnés de chevaux qui transportaient le bois coupé.

Ces derniers mois, les populations civiles ont été la cible à cinq reprises des tirs aveugles de l’armée.

Le 28 septembre 2007, plus de 5000 manifestants ont participé à ses funérailles dont la maire de Tunceli, Mme Songül Erol Abdil, le maire de Hozat, M. Cevdet Konak ainsi qu’un député du parti pro-kurde DTP Serafettin Halis ainsi qu’une délégation du barreau de Tunceli, de l’association turque des droits de l’homme (IHD) et d’autres associations de gauche. Bülent Karatas a été inhumé aux cris de « Bülent Karatas est immortel », « Dersim sera le tombeau du fascisme », « L’Etat assassin devra rendre des comptes » et sous les pleurs de sa mère, de son épouse et de ses sœurs.

Le lendemain, la police a procédé à onze arrestations lors d’une manifestation organisée devant le lycée de Galatasaray à Istanbul destinée à protester contre l’assassinat de Bülent Karatas.

Bülent Karatas était un villageois âgé de 32 ans qui sympathisait avec les mouvements révolutionnaires. En 1997, Karatas avait été emprisonné pour avoir aidé le mouvement maoïste MKP. En décembre 2006, il avait été arrêté dans une opération visant le DHKP-C (Parti et Front révolutionnaire de libération du peuple). Au moment de sa mort, il était toujours inculpé dans un procès politique, accusé d’avoir porté assistance au DHKP-C.

Après sa dernière garde à vue, Bülent Karatas aurait été contraint sous la menace à la collaboration par un responsable militaire de la région dénommé Tuncay Basçavus. Son refus de collaborer avec l’armée et ses sympathies déclarées pour les révolutionnaires avaient fait de lui une cible de choix pour les militaires de la région. (Source : Halkin Sesi TV, Evrensel, Yeni Özgür Politika, CNN Türk)

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