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TURKEY PUTS KURDISH JOURNALISTS ON TRIAL
tert.am
13.09.12
The first hearing of Turkey's biggest trial against members of the
press has started, involving 44 journalists, The Guardian reported.
Thirty-six of those have been in pre-trial detention since December,
facing terrorism charges and accused of backing the illegal pan-Kurdish
umbrella group, the KCK.
"This trial is clearly political," said Ertugrul Mavioglu, an
investigative journalist, whose terrorism charges for interviewing
Murat Karayilan, a member of the KCK - which includes the Kurdistan
Workers' party (PKK) - were dropped in December last year.
Human rights groups repeatedly criticise the Turkish government for the
prosecution of pro-Kurdish politicians and activists and journalists
who exercise the right to freedom of expression.
Andrew Gardner, Turkey researcher at Amnesty International, said:
"This prosecution forms a pattern [in Turkey] where critical writing,
political speeches and participation at peaceful demonstrations are
used as evidence of terrorism offences."
tert.am
13.09.12
The first hearing of Turkey's biggest trial against members of the
press has started, involving 44 journalists, The Guardian reported.
Thirty-six of those have been in pre-trial detention since December,
facing terrorism charges and accused of backing the illegal pan-Kurdish
umbrella group, the KCK.
"This trial is clearly political," said Ertugrul Mavioglu, an
investigative journalist, whose terrorism charges for interviewing
Murat Karayilan, a member of the KCK - which includes the Kurdistan
Workers' party (PKK) - were dropped in December last year.
Human rights groups repeatedly criticise the Turkish government for the
prosecution of pro-Kurdish politicians and activists and journalists
who exercise the right to freedom of expression.
Andrew Gardner, Turkey researcher at Amnesty International, said:
"This prosecution forms a pattern [in Turkey] where critical writing,
political speeches and participation at peaceful demonstrations are
used as evidence of terrorism offences."