Turkey - Alerts
A court in the southeastern Turkish province of Diyarbakir ruled to release Ozan Kilinc, the former editor-in-chief of the Kurdish daily
Azadiya Welat.
Under Law 6325, adopted on 5 July, prosecution of journalists accused of propaganda on behalf of terrorist organizations may be suspended or abandoned.
In 2009, Vedat Kursun was sentenced to 166 years in prison for publishing several Kurdish newspapers; the sentence was later reduced to 10 years.
The five journalists have spent 18 months behind bars on terrorism-related charges.
Ferhat Tunc was convicted of terrorism charges because he mentioned the names of deceased Turkish leftists in a speech.
Mehmet Tahir Ilhan was sentened to eight years and four months in prison for spreading propaganda on behalf of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, following his participation in a demonstration in the southern province of Mersin.
Muyessar Yildiz, who was arrested in March 2011 along with Nedim Sener and Ahmet Sik, has spent 16 months in jail.
The ban was issued after Demokratik Vatan was charged with "spreading propaganda for a terrorist organisation" under Turkey's anti-terror law. A judicial reform package currently before Parliament could see an end to such bans.
Zarakolu still faces trial on charges that carry a heavy prison sentence, along with scores of other writers and intellectuals who remain imprisoned.
Member of Parliament Serafettin Halis says that every time he made a speech to his constituents, the authorities began another investigation against him.
The attack is reportedly related to a press release in which the association condemned an attack on Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk during Newroz celebrations in Batman.
Professor Büşra Ersanlı is facing up to 22.5 years in jail, while Ragıp Zarakolu could see as many as 15 years behind bars on charges of "aiding and abetting an illegal organisation".
In addition to the month-long ban on
Ozgur Gundem, the Gun Printing Company was raided by the police and two issues of the newspaper were confiscated.
Ahmet Sik is facing an investigation after he criticised the judges and police officers who handled his case.
This is the second time that "Zaman" newspaper's offices have been targeted, and editorial staff suspects it was more than ordinary vandalism.
Ahmet Sik told RSF he is taking the threat seriously and believes it to be the work of “the circles responsible for the conspiracy” that led to his being detained for a year on a terrorism charge.
Four journalists, Nedim Sener and Ahmet Sik, and OdaTV writers Çoskun Musluk and Sail Çakir were last night released pending trial in the high-profile OdaTV case; six journalists are still in prison relating to the case.
Oda TV defendant Dogan Yurdakul, who shared a cell with Nedim Sener and Ahmet Sik in the Silivri Prison, is suffering from heart disease and kidney failure.
"Zaman" is blaming Kurdish militants for violence in Paris and Cologne, including an arson attack on its offices in the latter city. The newspaper also accused PKK supporters of carrying out prior attacks on its offices in London, Vienna and Zurich.
Seckin Aydogan, of the band Grup Yorum, was arrested after he attended a protest calling for the release of the "Yuruyus" magazine employees.
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