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'TABOOS DEBATED MORE BUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH CURBED'
Today's Zaman
May 13 2011
Turkey
Amnesty International said in its latest annual report that although
there is increasingly open debate regarding previously taboo issues in
Turkey, numerous criminal prosecutions have followed the expression
of dissenting opinions, especially those relating to criticism of
the armed forces, the position of Armenians and Kurds in Turkey and
ongoing criminal prosecutions.
The 2011 report noted that anti-terrorism laws, carrying higher
prison sentences and resulting in pre-trial detention orders,
were used to stifle legitimate free expression. Kurdish political
activists, journalists and human rights defenders were among those
most frequently prosecuted.
"Arbitrary restrictions continued to be imposed, blocking access to
websites and newspapers were issued with temporary closure orders.
There were continued threats of violence against outspoken
individuals," stated the report released on Friday by the UK-based AI.
Regarding workers' rights, the report positively noted that
long-standing demands by trade unions for İstanbul's central Taksim
Square to be opened for demonstrations on May 1 were granted for the
first time in recent history, and the demonstrations passed peacefully
in contrast to previous years.
On the other hand, constitutional amendments granted the right of
collective bargaining to public sector employees but the right to
strike was still denied to all civil servants, the report said. The
report also indicated a "landmark judgment" in Turkey, saying 19
officials including police officers and prison guards convicted for
their part in torture that resulted in the death of political activist
Engin Ceber in İstanbul in October 2008.
"Four of those convicted were sentenced to life imprisonment, the
first time in Turkish legal history that state officials had received
such a sentence for causing death through torture. Regrettably, this
contrasted starkly with other cases involving alleged torture committed
by state officials where criminal investigations and prosecutions of
law enforcement officials remained ineffective," it also said.
The human rights organization noted that the constitutional amendments
were approved by Parliament in May and by referendum in September,
with an approval rating of nearly 60 percent: "Amendments included
changing the composition of the Constitutional Court and the powerful
Higher Council of Judges and Prosecutors [HSYK], allowing military
officials to be tried in civilian courts, the establishment of an
Ombudsman office and positive measures to combat discrimination."
Regarding impunity, Amnesty International underlined that
investigations of alleged human rights abuses by state officials
remained flawed and, when opened, criminal cases were routinely drawn
out and ineffectual: "The losing of evidence by state officials, and
countercharges being issued against those who alleged human rights
abuses, contributed to the perpetuation of impunity. Independent human
rights mechanisms proposed by the government were not established."
The report also referred to torture and ill treatment, noting that
it occurs especially outside places of detention, including during
demonstrations, but also in police custody and during transfer
to prison.
Under the title "Violence against women and girls" the organization
noted that the government's National Action Plan 2007-10 to combat
domestic violence failed to record significant progress, due in part
to a lack of coordination, insufficient resource allocation and the
lack of measurable goals. "Critically, the number of shelters for
women victims of domestic violence remained far below the number
required in domestic law. According to official records, 57 existed
in Turkey, an increase of eight over the previous year. In July, the
[Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against
Women] CEDAW Committee issued a series of recommendations including
the enactment of comprehensive legislation on violence against women,"
it said. However, it added no progress was made in removing legal
barriers preventing women from wearing the headscarf in universities,
although implementation of the ban relaxed during the year.
On children's rights, the report said following legislative amendments
the vast majority of children prosecuted for their participation in
demonstrations were released. "However, flaws in the juvenile justice
system, notably the absence of Children's Courts in some provinces,
were not addressed, nor were steps taken to rehabilitate children
previously held in extended detention or to investigate the widespread
claims of ill-treatment," it added.
When it comes to the right to conscientious objection to military
service, the report said that it remained unrecognized in domestic
law. "Conscientious objectors were repeatedly prosecuted for their
refusal to perform military service, and those who voiced their public
support for this right were subjected to criminal prosecution and
conviction," it said. Amnesty International's report also noted that
access to temporary asylum procedures continued to be arbitrarily
denied, "resulting in people being forcibly returned to places where
they may face persecution." Additionally, even though constitutional
amendments improved protections against discrimination, they failed
to address discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and
gender identity and discrimination continued in law and practice.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Today's Zaman
May 13 2011
Turkey
Amnesty International said in its latest annual report that although
there is increasingly open debate regarding previously taboo issues in
Turkey, numerous criminal prosecutions have followed the expression
of dissenting opinions, especially those relating to criticism of
the armed forces, the position of Armenians and Kurds in Turkey and
ongoing criminal prosecutions.
The 2011 report noted that anti-terrorism laws, carrying higher
prison sentences and resulting in pre-trial detention orders,
were used to stifle legitimate free expression. Kurdish political
activists, journalists and human rights defenders were among those
most frequently prosecuted.
"Arbitrary restrictions continued to be imposed, blocking access to
websites and newspapers were issued with temporary closure orders.
There were continued threats of violence against outspoken
individuals," stated the report released on Friday by the UK-based AI.
Regarding workers' rights, the report positively noted that
long-standing demands by trade unions for İstanbul's central Taksim
Square to be opened for demonstrations on May 1 were granted for the
first time in recent history, and the demonstrations passed peacefully
in contrast to previous years.
On the other hand, constitutional amendments granted the right of
collective bargaining to public sector employees but the right to
strike was still denied to all civil servants, the report said. The
report also indicated a "landmark judgment" in Turkey, saying 19
officials including police officers and prison guards convicted for
their part in torture that resulted in the death of political activist
Engin Ceber in İstanbul in October 2008.
"Four of those convicted were sentenced to life imprisonment, the
first time in Turkish legal history that state officials had received
such a sentence for causing death through torture. Regrettably, this
contrasted starkly with other cases involving alleged torture committed
by state officials where criminal investigations and prosecutions of
law enforcement officials remained ineffective," it also said.
The human rights organization noted that the constitutional amendments
were approved by Parliament in May and by referendum in September,
with an approval rating of nearly 60 percent: "Amendments included
changing the composition of the Constitutional Court and the powerful
Higher Council of Judges and Prosecutors [HSYK], allowing military
officials to be tried in civilian courts, the establishment of an
Ombudsman office and positive measures to combat discrimination."
Regarding impunity, Amnesty International underlined that
investigations of alleged human rights abuses by state officials
remained flawed and, when opened, criminal cases were routinely drawn
out and ineffectual: "The losing of evidence by state officials, and
countercharges being issued against those who alleged human rights
abuses, contributed to the perpetuation of impunity. Independent human
rights mechanisms proposed by the government were not established."
The report also referred to torture and ill treatment, noting that
it occurs especially outside places of detention, including during
demonstrations, but also in police custody and during transfer
to prison.
Under the title "Violence against women and girls" the organization
noted that the government's National Action Plan 2007-10 to combat
domestic violence failed to record significant progress, due in part
to a lack of coordination, insufficient resource allocation and the
lack of measurable goals. "Critically, the number of shelters for
women victims of domestic violence remained far below the number
required in domestic law. According to official records, 57 existed
in Turkey, an increase of eight over the previous year. In July, the
[Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against
Women] CEDAW Committee issued a series of recommendations including
the enactment of comprehensive legislation on violence against women,"
it said. However, it added no progress was made in removing legal
barriers preventing women from wearing the headscarf in universities,
although implementation of the ban relaxed during the year.
On children's rights, the report said following legislative amendments
the vast majority of children prosecuted for their participation in
demonstrations were released. "However, flaws in the juvenile justice
system, notably the absence of Children's Courts in some provinces,
were not addressed, nor were steps taken to rehabilitate children
previously held in extended detention or to investigate the widespread
claims of ill-treatment," it added.
When it comes to the right to conscientious objection to military
service, the report said that it remained unrecognized in domestic
law. "Conscientious objectors were repeatedly prosecuted for their
refusal to perform military service, and those who voiced their public
support for this right were subjected to criminal prosecution and
conviction," it said. Amnesty International's report also noted that
access to temporary asylum procedures continued to be arbitrarily
denied, "resulting in people being forcibly returned to places where
they may face persecution." Additionally, even though constitutional
amendments improved protections against discrimination, they failed
to address discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and
gender identity and discrimination continued in law and practice.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress