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BIAnet.org, Turkey
Nov 11 2010
"Freedom of Speech" still Fuels Concern
The Progress Report of the European Union Commission criticized the
numerous trials opened against journalists for reporting about the
"Ergenekon" case and warned Turkey on procedures that result in
auto-censorship of the press.
Erol Ã-NDEROÄ?LU [email protected] Brussels - BÄ°A News Center11 November
2010, Thursday In the Turkey 2010 Progress Report issued on 9
November, the European Union Commission warned Turkey on the
legislations regarding freedom of expression, the prosecution and
conviction of journalists and pressure on the media.
The commission concluded that Turkey progressed towards meeting the
criteria of the EU accession process, especially due to the
constitutional reform package. The Commission pointed out the need for
further improvement of fundamental rights, particularly in
implementing freedom of expression in practice.
EU's Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle stated: "Despite overall
progress in 2009, we are concerned that Turkey's accession process is
losing its momentum. The key to changing this is primarily with
Turkey, which is expected to fully implement its current contractual
relations with the EU - the Customs Union - before it can gear up to
full membership of the Union ".
"If Turkey proceeds to full implementation of its Customs Union
obligations with the EU, and makes progress towards normalisation of
relations with Cyprus, it will be able to accelerate the pace of
negotiations", the report emphazised.
Criticism on trials against journalists
The report mentioned that a total of 4091 cases have been opened under
charges of "violating the secrecy of an investigation" (Turkish
Criminal Law TCK Art. 285) and "attempting to influence a fair trial"
(TCK Art. 288) since 2007 in the scope of the Ergenekon investigation
and other trials. The report underlines that restrictions of freedom
of expression are continually being restricted under Article 301 of
the TCK and other provisions.
The report presented the Kurdish newspaper Azadiya Welat as an
example: "Pressure on newspapers discussing the Kurdish question or
publishing in Kurdish increased.
In the course of the year, publication of the Azadiya Welat newspaper
in Diyarbakır was
banned several times and its journalists were sentenced in prison
under terrorism propaganda charges".
The report furthermore stated, "Overall, open and free debate has
continued and expanded. However, the high number of legal sues against
journalists and undue pressure on the media undermine freedom of the
press in practice".
It was said that the debate in public and in the media on sensitive
topics such as the Kurdish issue, minority rights, the Armenian issue
and the role of the military was increasigly open and free. "The high
number of cases initiated against journalists who have reported on the
Ergenekon case" was criticized on the other hand.
Moreover, the report touched upon the issue of frequent and
disproportionate access bans to websites.
Freedom of the press is still an area of concern according to the
report in terms of political attacks against the press, referring to
the DoÄ?an Media group as an example: "The court case on the tax fine
ordered in 2009 against Dogan Media Group, critical of the government,
continues. The press exercises self restraint when reporting following
the initiation of this case. Court cases have been opened against
journalists about their work by politicians and highlevel authorities,
including military authorities".
Beware of hate speech and intolerance
The Progress Report saw further room for improvement regarding hate
speech and intolerance the targeting of minorities, criticizing hate
speech in the pro-Islamist and ultra-national media.
The report highlighted an improvement in cultural rights in relation
with broadcasts in languages other than Turkish: the Regulation on the
Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) was amended in November,
removing all restrictions on broadcasting in Kurdish and other
languages by private and public channels at local level. Fourteen
radio stations and TV channels have been given permission to broadcast
in Kurdish and Arabic. Restrictions have been lifted". (EÃ-/VK)
Click here to view the full report:
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2010/package/tr_rapport_2010_en.pdf
From: A. Papazian
Nov 11 2010
"Freedom of Speech" still Fuels Concern
The Progress Report of the European Union Commission criticized the
numerous trials opened against journalists for reporting about the
"Ergenekon" case and warned Turkey on procedures that result in
auto-censorship of the press.
Erol Ã-NDEROÄ?LU [email protected] Brussels - BÄ°A News Center11 November
2010, Thursday In the Turkey 2010 Progress Report issued on 9
November, the European Union Commission warned Turkey on the
legislations regarding freedom of expression, the prosecution and
conviction of journalists and pressure on the media.
The commission concluded that Turkey progressed towards meeting the
criteria of the EU accession process, especially due to the
constitutional reform package. The Commission pointed out the need for
further improvement of fundamental rights, particularly in
implementing freedom of expression in practice.
EU's Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle stated: "Despite overall
progress in 2009, we are concerned that Turkey's accession process is
losing its momentum. The key to changing this is primarily with
Turkey, which is expected to fully implement its current contractual
relations with the EU - the Customs Union - before it can gear up to
full membership of the Union ".
"If Turkey proceeds to full implementation of its Customs Union
obligations with the EU, and makes progress towards normalisation of
relations with Cyprus, it will be able to accelerate the pace of
negotiations", the report emphazised.
Criticism on trials against journalists
The report mentioned that a total of 4091 cases have been opened under
charges of "violating the secrecy of an investigation" (Turkish
Criminal Law TCK Art. 285) and "attempting to influence a fair trial"
(TCK Art. 288) since 2007 in the scope of the Ergenekon investigation
and other trials. The report underlines that restrictions of freedom
of expression are continually being restricted under Article 301 of
the TCK and other provisions.
The report presented the Kurdish newspaper Azadiya Welat as an
example: "Pressure on newspapers discussing the Kurdish question or
publishing in Kurdish increased.
In the course of the year, publication of the Azadiya Welat newspaper
in Diyarbakır was
banned several times and its journalists were sentenced in prison
under terrorism propaganda charges".
The report furthermore stated, "Overall, open and free debate has
continued and expanded. However, the high number of legal sues against
journalists and undue pressure on the media undermine freedom of the
press in practice".
It was said that the debate in public and in the media on sensitive
topics such as the Kurdish issue, minority rights, the Armenian issue
and the role of the military was increasigly open and free. "The high
number of cases initiated against journalists who have reported on the
Ergenekon case" was criticized on the other hand.
Moreover, the report touched upon the issue of frequent and
disproportionate access bans to websites.
Freedom of the press is still an area of concern according to the
report in terms of political attacks against the press, referring to
the DoÄ?an Media group as an example: "The court case on the tax fine
ordered in 2009 against Dogan Media Group, critical of the government,
continues. The press exercises self restraint when reporting following
the initiation of this case. Court cases have been opened against
journalists about their work by politicians and highlevel authorities,
including military authorities".
Beware of hate speech and intolerance
The Progress Report saw further room for improvement regarding hate
speech and intolerance the targeting of minorities, criticizing hate
speech in the pro-Islamist and ultra-national media.
The report highlighted an improvement in cultural rights in relation
with broadcasts in languages other than Turkish: the Regulation on the
Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) was amended in November,
removing all restrictions on broadcasting in Kurdish and other
languages by private and public channels at local level. Fourteen
radio stations and TV channels have been given permission to broadcast
in Kurdish and Arabic. Restrictions have been lifted". (EÃ-/VK)
Click here to view the full report:
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2010/package/tr_rapport_2010_en.pdf
From: A. Papazian