6 PRESS AND FREEDOM CASES THIS WEEK
Erol ONDEROGLU
BİA, Turkey
June 5 2006
Istanbul courts to be busy this week with journalists, jurist and
publisher on trial. Journalist Magden to appear at court on June 7,
columnist Belge, reporter Saymaz, Selek and jurist Kaplan on June 8
and Peri Publishing House owner Onal on June 9.
BİA (Istanbul) - Istanbul courts will be busy this week hearing six
cases against journalists, a jurist, sociologist and publisher in
a judicial marathon that will once again put press freedoms and the
freedom of expression in Turkey under the spotlight.
Journalist Perihan Magden is to appear at court on June 7 while cases
against columnist Murat Belge , reporter Ismail Saymaz and sociologist
Pinar Selek will be heard on June 8.
Jurist Hasip Kaplan, who was on trial last week, will stand before
the court once again on June 8 while Peri Publishing House owner
Ahmet Onal also tried last week will be at court again on June 9.
The Initiative Against Thought Crimes has described the cases as "an
ongoing festival" and issued an appeal for as many people to attend
the hearings as possible.
Magden's case on June 7
On trial for her article "Conscientious Objection Is A Human Right"
that appeared in the "Yeni Aktuel" magazine, the case against
journalist Perihan Magden will continue at Istanbul's 2nd Criminal
Court of First Instance at 10:30 on June 7, Wednesday.
Magden is charged under article 118 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK)
for "discouraging the people from military service".
Belge to appear at court
A day after the Magden case is heard, "Radikal" newspaper writer
Prof. Dr. Murat Belge will appear at court charged under article 288
of the TCK for his article titled "A Court Verdict".
Belge is accused of attempting to "influence justice" by criticising
an administrative court decision that postponed a controversial
conference in Istanbul related to Ottoman Armenians.
Belge will appear before the Istanbul Bagcılar 2nd Criminal Court of
First Instance on June 8, Thursday at 10:30.
Selek held responsible for explosion
The same day Belge stands before judges, Pinar Selek who is known
for her researches into children outcast from society and the Kurdish
problem, will face charges holding her responsible for a bomb explosion
at Istanbul's historic Spice Market.
Selek will appear before the 12th High Criminal Court at the Besiktas
Justice Hall at 14:00 on June 8, Thursday, where she is charged
under article 125 of the TCK and faces life time imprisonment if
found guilty.
Kaplan on trial for TV remarks
Again on June 8, the Beyogu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance will
hear the case against jurist Hasip Kaplan who is on trial for remarks
he made on private Flash TV's "Alternatif" program.
Charged under TCK article 216, Kaplan is accused of "inciting hatred
and enmity" with his remarks and his hearing is listed to start
at 10:00.
Saymaz faces "influencing justice" case
Another case that will be heard on June 8 is that against "Radikal"
newspaper reporter Ismail Saymaz in relation to his news report titled
"Torture allegation involving 11 year old child".
Saymaz, similar to Belge, is charged with influencing justice. The
former chairman of the Contemporary Journalists Association (CGD)
Istanbul Branch is listed to appear before the judge at 10:35, at
the Bagcilar 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
No end to cases against publisher Onal
Peri Publishing House owner Ahmet Onal who was sentenced on May 31
in relation to another book is to be tried on June 9 at the Fatih
2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on charges of insulting modern
Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk by publishing the book "Being
an Alawite in Dersim".
The book, authored by Munzur Cem and Huseyin Baysulun, is only one
of 27 charges levelled against the publisher up till now.
The Turkish language CETELE web site gives updated information on
all freedom of expression and opinion cases that have been opened in
Turkey.
--Boundary_(ID_dmcgpKE3zedW+tvftdzxoA) --
Erol ONDEROGLU
BİA, Turkey
June 5 2006
Istanbul courts to be busy this week with journalists, jurist and
publisher on trial. Journalist Magden to appear at court on June 7,
columnist Belge, reporter Saymaz, Selek and jurist Kaplan on June 8
and Peri Publishing House owner Onal on June 9.
BİA (Istanbul) - Istanbul courts will be busy this week hearing six
cases against journalists, a jurist, sociologist and publisher in
a judicial marathon that will once again put press freedoms and the
freedom of expression in Turkey under the spotlight.
Journalist Perihan Magden is to appear at court on June 7 while cases
against columnist Murat Belge , reporter Ismail Saymaz and sociologist
Pinar Selek will be heard on June 8.
Jurist Hasip Kaplan, who was on trial last week, will stand before
the court once again on June 8 while Peri Publishing House owner
Ahmet Onal also tried last week will be at court again on June 9.
The Initiative Against Thought Crimes has described the cases as "an
ongoing festival" and issued an appeal for as many people to attend
the hearings as possible.
Magden's case on June 7
On trial for her article "Conscientious Objection Is A Human Right"
that appeared in the "Yeni Aktuel" magazine, the case against
journalist Perihan Magden will continue at Istanbul's 2nd Criminal
Court of First Instance at 10:30 on June 7, Wednesday.
Magden is charged under article 118 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK)
for "discouraging the people from military service".
Belge to appear at court
A day after the Magden case is heard, "Radikal" newspaper writer
Prof. Dr. Murat Belge will appear at court charged under article 288
of the TCK for his article titled "A Court Verdict".
Belge is accused of attempting to "influence justice" by criticising
an administrative court decision that postponed a controversial
conference in Istanbul related to Ottoman Armenians.
Belge will appear before the Istanbul Bagcılar 2nd Criminal Court of
First Instance on June 8, Thursday at 10:30.
Selek held responsible for explosion
The same day Belge stands before judges, Pinar Selek who is known
for her researches into children outcast from society and the Kurdish
problem, will face charges holding her responsible for a bomb explosion
at Istanbul's historic Spice Market.
Selek will appear before the 12th High Criminal Court at the Besiktas
Justice Hall at 14:00 on June 8, Thursday, where she is charged
under article 125 of the TCK and faces life time imprisonment if
found guilty.
Kaplan on trial for TV remarks
Again on June 8, the Beyogu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance will
hear the case against jurist Hasip Kaplan who is on trial for remarks
he made on private Flash TV's "Alternatif" program.
Charged under TCK article 216, Kaplan is accused of "inciting hatred
and enmity" with his remarks and his hearing is listed to start
at 10:00.
Saymaz faces "influencing justice" case
Another case that will be heard on June 8 is that against "Radikal"
newspaper reporter Ismail Saymaz in relation to his news report titled
"Torture allegation involving 11 year old child".
Saymaz, similar to Belge, is charged with influencing justice. The
former chairman of the Contemporary Journalists Association (CGD)
Istanbul Branch is listed to appear before the judge at 10:35, at
the Bagcilar 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
No end to cases against publisher Onal
Peri Publishing House owner Ahmet Onal who was sentenced on May 31
in relation to another book is to be tried on June 9 at the Fatih
2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on charges of insulting modern
Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk by publishing the book "Being
an Alawite in Dersim".
The book, authored by Munzur Cem and Huseyin Baysulun, is only one
of 27 charges levelled against the publisher up till now.
The Turkish language CETELE web site gives updated information on
all freedom of expression and opinion cases that have been opened in
Turkey.
--Boundary_(ID_dmcgpKE3zedW+tvftdzxoA) --