19 July 2006
ANTI-TERROR LAW THREATENS JOURNALISTS AND PRO-KURDISH MEDIA
Turkey's parliament has approved changes to an anti-terrorism law despite concerns that they will place new limits on free expression, according to IPS Communication Foundation (BIANET) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF). The measures must still be ratified by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
RSF says the amendments to the 1991 Law on the Fight against Terrorism, passed by parliament on 29 June, could lead to arbitrary prosecutions of journalists covering "terrorist organisations" and will particularly impact pro-Kurdish media. One controversial article provides for a three-year prison sentence for "any dissemination of statements and communiqués by terrorist organisations." Another stipulates fines and prison sentences for "whoever makes propaganda for a terrorist organisation."
Martin Scheinin, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism, expressed several concerns about the amendments in a 21 May letter to the Turkish Parliament's Justice Committee, reports BIANET. One of his concerns is that, due to the "very broad definition of terrorism and wide list of terrorist offences," the law could be used against non-violent expression of opinion.
Scheinin also raised questions about the amendments' legality under international conventions, says BIANET. RSF notes that Turkey is currently negotiating with the European Union with a view to becoming a member.
Visit these links:
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=18243
- BIANET: http://www.bianet.org/2006/07/01_eng/news81682.htm
- Initiative for Freedom of Expression: http://www.antenna-tr.org/index.asp?lgg=en
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